THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE APPROACHES TO CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION IN A.C.K KAVUTHU DEANERY, MAKUENI DIOCESE

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to explore the effectiveness of the approaches to conflict transformation in A.C.K Kavuthu Deanery. F. Mulu (2008:1) explains that conflict is a universal phenomenon that affects all cultures at all societal levels. To know that helps one to think about the approaches to use and how effective they might be to solve conflict whenever it occurs. Therefore, the ACK constitution encourages church leaders to be involved in creating peace and reconciliation in all international and personal matters. However, the problem is that there are still continuous conflicts in ACK Kavuthu deanery, which makes one to wonder whether their approaches to conflict transformation are effective. Thus, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the approaches to conflict transformation used in A.C.K Kavuthu Deanery with the view to offer recommendations. Furthermore, the specific adjectives were to establish the causes of conflicts in Kavuthu Deanery, to assess the approaches used to deal with conflicts in Kavuthu Deanery and to recommend the approaches to conflict transformation that can be used in Kavuthu Deanery. The study took place in A.C.K Kavuthu Deanery, Makueni Diocese in Makueni County, Kenya. The study was both qualitative and quantitative. It used questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions to collect the data from the respondents in order to be able to answer research questions. The responses given in the questionnaires were coded, analyzed using Microsoft excel. This study also considered the use of participants’ quotes to represent their experiences to provide meaningful descriptions of the issues being discussed. The study provided information about the causes of conflicts the deanery undergoes, the approaches used to deal with conflicts and the recommendations based on the research results. It is hoped that this study is helpful to A.C.K church leaders and church policy makers for them to see the essence of implementing the approaches to conflict transformation in the A.C.K Constitution, which will be used as a guide while solving church conflicts.