Evaluating Selected Sports Programs in Peacebuilding Among the Youth in Kisumu County, Kenya

Abstract

Youth-led peacebuilding strategies within the Sport for Peace programs are increasingly becoming important as a means of preventing youth radicalisation and violence, and promoting reconciliation. Based on this premise, the study aimed to examine how youth can be involved in peacebuilding through sport in Kisumu County, Kenya. This was achieved by evaluating select sports programs and the opportunities and implications of using sports to strengthen peacebuilding efforts among the youth. The select sports programs were football, taekwondo, athletics, basketball, and boxing. The independent variable for the research was sport programs while the dependent variables were peacebuilding and youth involvement. The study employed the theory of conflict transformation by Botes (2003) complemented by the social inclusion theory by Allman (2013) within the context of Sport for Development and Peace (SDP). A cross-sectional study design was adopted, anchored on a mixed method approach. The study employed the Cochran formula to determine a sample size of 383 from a target population of 116,297 youth. Convenience and purposive sampling, complemented by stratified sampling, were used to achieve a high-precision study outcome. Stratified sampling was employed to target 10 key informants and 40 FGD participants. Data was collected using questionnaires, key informant interviews, and FGD guidelines. The data collection tool was digitised, powered by a mobile-based app, KoBoCollect. Quantitative data involved descriptive and inferential statistics, presented through tables, figures, and graphs, while qualitative data was collected through open-ended responses, statements, and suggestions provided by the study participants. Quantitative data analysis was done using the SPSS tool and Microsoft Excel. Qualitative data was processed and analyzed through content and narrative analysis. The research findings positively contributed to expanding the existing academic literature on SDP among the youth, supported with a pearson chi-square test indicating a statistically significant relationship between youth involvement in peacebuilding and considering sport a peacebuilding strategy (χ²=51.945, p=0.000).The data further highlighted sports’ capacity to channel youth energy constructively and instill pro-social behaviors while at the same time creating effective platforms for promoting dialogue and diplomacy. This provided contextual information that can inform policy and research on SDP. Findings further indicated that Sport for peace has the capacity to create safe spaces through social cohesion, and not only hcan it harness the power of sport to support peacebuilding efforts, it can also transform relationships, enhance community ties, help in stress management, reinforce positive behavior, and encourage the development of conflict resolution skills. The study also revealed a general need to adopt and strengthen policies on peacebuilding, funding, and support of the peace agenda, including institutional support from the grassroots level all the way up to the County and national levels.