The Role of Ethnic Identity in Prolonging Kuria-Maasai Intercommunity Conflicts in Angata Barikoi Area, Migori-Narok Border, Kenya (2010–2024)

Abstract

The Kuria and Maasai communities in the southern part of Kenya have been embroiled in persistent conflicts over the years. These conflicts have often taken the form of armed clashes across the Transmara-Kuria border. The study sought to investigate the role of ethnic identity in prolonging the Kuria-Maasai intercommunity conflict in the Angata Barikoi Area, Migori-Narok border, Kenya (2010-2024). The study objectives included: exploring the nature of the Kuria-Maasai inter-community conflict, the role of ethnic identity markers in prolonging the Kuria-Maasai intercommunity conflict and developing strategies for resolving ethnic identity-based conflict between the Kuria and Maasai communities in the Angata Barikoi Area, Migori-Narok border, Kenya. The study was anchored on Ethnic Conflict Theory and Resource-Based Conflict theory. Pragmaticism philosophy was adopted to inform the adoption of explanatory concurrent designs. The main target population included 32,147 people, including residents of Angata Barikoi, the Migori-Narok counties border, Kenya. From the target population, a sample size of 190 was selected. The modified expanded Programme on Immunisation sampling technique was adopted to select the residents of Angata Barakoi to participate in the survey. Respondents to participate in the Key Informant Interview were selected using a purposive sampling method. The filled questionnaires and transcribed interview records were used in data analysis. Descriptive statistics was employed to analyse the quantitative survey data, which were further presented in the form of Tables, graphs and accompanying narrations. Additionally, content analysis was adopted for qualitative data sourced via interviews. The Maasai–Kuria conflict in Angata Barikoi is frequent and violent, involving property destruction, livestock theft, assaults, and rising firearm use, intensified during dry seasons and elections. Strong ethnic loyalty, traditional practices, and shared memories of past injustices foster internal cohesion but exacerbate inter-community tensions and mistrust. Key strategies to mitigate conflict include small arms control, regulating commercialized cattle raids, participatory land demarcation, and drought mitigation. In line with findings, it is advisable that conflict mitigation within Angata Barikoi should focus on managing the spread of small arms, limiting the commercialization of cattle raids, and executing participatory land demarcation to alleviate disputes regarding grazing territories. Furthermore, it is essential to address environmental stressors, such as drought, through sustainable resource management practices. These initiatives should be supported by hybrid peacebuilding methods that merge the cultural legitimacy of traditional practices with the efficiency of contemporary governance and technology.