Effectiveness of Negotiation in Resolving Family Conflict: Case of Kajiado North Sub-County, Kenya

Mary Watetu Ndung’u, Dr. Peter Mbaro, Dr. Joseph Okumu
Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
Corresponding Author: watetumari8@gmail.com

Abstract: This study investigated the effectiveness of negotiation as a means of addressing family conflict in Kajiado North Sub-County by looking at major causes of family conflict, role of negotiation in addressing family conflict and how to enhance negotiation in addressing family conflict. The study was anchored on Social Learning Theory, Family System Theory and Behavioral Exchange Theory. The study adopted mixed research design and used a sample size of 420 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews and analyzed through descriptive statistics with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 20. The study revealed that domestic violence and infidelity, poor communication, fight over resources, drug abuse and gender roles disagreement as well as infertility and interference from in-laws/relatives/kin were major causes of family conflict. Further, findings showed that negotiation was crucial in calming emotions of conflicting parties, establishing root cause of the problem and helping family members in a conflict to reach a compromise thereby promoting amicable solution to family conflicts. However, findings revealed that adoption of negotiation in resolving family conflict was faced with a number of challenges such as retrogressive culture, taboos and traditions, gender imbalance, double standard and personality traits of warring parties. This study recommended tailored awareness and sensitization campaigns on the use of negotiation as well as introduction of consultation desks in key institutions such as Churches, Chiefs/local administration offices where family members in conflict can get assistance from trained counselors, family therapists and mediators in addressing cases of conflict.