The Struggle for Pluralism and Peace: Legitimacy, Conflict and Governance in two Kenyan Wards

This research report summarizes the key findings of a mixed-method research study designed and commissioned by IRI to understand the interplay between governance, legitimacy, and conflict in Bartabwa Ward (Baringo County) and Balambala Ward (Garissa County) in Kenya. The report includes a brief background section which delves into the local political dynamics in the two wards, as well as providing a brief conflict analysis. Next, the report discusses the specific research methodology commissioned by IRI, explaining why certain methods were used, as well as who was selected to participate in the study. Then the report explains nine key findings unearthed by the research. These findings are divided according to whether they fall under the umbrella theme of conflict or the theme of governance and legitimacy (the findings are summarized below). Finally, the report offers six recommendations for governance actors in the two wards to implement in order to mitigate conflict issues at the local level and improve governance dynamics and the state of local democracy in the two wards.