Implications of Illiteracy on Peace Building: A Case of Loruk Sub County in Baringo County, Kenya

Abstract

This research sought to assess the implications of illiteracy on peace building in Loruk, Baringo County. The main objective was to determine if literacy skills are important in ensuring sustainability of peace building efforts in Loruk, Baringo County. The purpose of the study was to determine the implications of illiteracy on peace building with an aim of finding if literacy enhancement in Loruk-Baringo County could be used to find lasting solutions to violent conflict and insecurity. The primary objective of the study was to identify the implications of illiteracy on peace building in Kenya. The study evaluated the implications of illiteracy on peace building focusing on the role of gender, cultural practices on the relationship between illiteracy and peace building as well as the challenges faced by local stakeholders in promoting peace building through literacy programs. The study took place in Baringo County targeting population comprising men and women living or working in Loruk. The Pokot people who practice pastoralism inhabit the region. The study was anchored on the John Paul Lederach, peace-building theory of 2005. The study took place between April 2017 and June 2017 utilizing a descriptive case study design. Further, the study adopted a mixed research approach of data collection. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected using questionnaires, and interview guides. Qualitative data was analyzed using observational narrative analysis. The researcher targeted the county leadership (the 18 members of the county assembly, the Senator and Governor), 30 field officers from the NGO (PHARP international ) that operates in the region, 25 education administrators in Baringo County and 30 clergy officials from regional parishes of the catholic church missionary activities in the region. The total target populations were therefore 103 respondents. The study sample was 30% of the entire target population. Hence, the sample size for this study was 32 individuals. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, v21) was utilized to run descriptive statistics, percentages, frequencies, tables and charts based on the significant research questions. Content analysis was to analyze responses from the interviewees. Stratified and simple random sampling was utilized to get the sample size required in the study. The findings of the study indicate that illiteracy negatively influences peace building and is therefore a detriment to peace building efforts in Loruk in Baringo county. The findings confirm to the hypothesis of negative relationship between illiteracy and peace building process in Baringo County. The study recommends empowerment through education to promote literacy as well as compulsory primary and secondary education.