Firmina Humri
Ilkiding’a Secondary School, Arusha.
Email: firminasarme@gmail.com

Abstract: This study investigated the effectiveness of School Management Teams’(SMTs’) strategies on conflict resolution in public and private secondary schools. Distributive Leadership Theory guided the study and Sequential Explanatory Design was employed to collect data in a sequential manner in which both quantitative and qualitative data were collected in phases. Correlational research design was also adopted and hypotheses were tested using Chi-square. Teachers were selected by stratified random sampling whiles MTs and school heads were conveniently and purposively selected from a population of 312 SMTs and 662 teachers from 39 publicand120 SMTs and 346 teachers from 15 private secondary schools. Questionnaire and structured interview were used to collect data. Cronbach coefficient alpha was employed to test for reliability of instruments; TQP= 0.737 & TQPr=0.721. Credibility of qualitative data was established through detailed reporting of the research process. Chi-square test for hypotheses was conducted using SPSS version 23. The study revealed that there is no significant difference on the strategies used by SMTs in conflict resolution between public and private secondary schools {H01; χ2 (4) = 5.028, p=0.284}. Similarly, there is no significant difference on the effectiveness of the SMTs’ strategies in conflict resolution between public and private secondary schools {H02; χ2 (2) = 3.611, p=0.164}. In conclusion, since p>0.05the null hypotheses are not rejected. This study recommends that school administrators and SMTs should receive continuous training and preparation on issues of leadership and conflict management upon appointment.

Abstract: This research sought to investigate how dialogue can be effectively used as a means to conflict resolution among pastoral communities in Kenya. The study was done in Kapedo location, Turkana County. It was set to investigate the effectiveness of dialogue as a means of conflict resolution among pastoralist communities in Kapedo location. This study was guided by Relation-Cultural Theory (RCT). A mixed methods approach with a focus on descriptive research design was adopted. A sample size of 341 participants was achieved for the study. Questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data, while FGDs and interviews were used to collect qualitative data. SPSS software was used to analyze quantitative data while thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The study found out that dialogue, if adopted, would help resolve the long-lived conflict in Kapedo location. The study recommends that the rites of passage ceremonies should be used as instruments through which the young men who are directly involved in these conflicts could be taught on the centrality of dialogue in conflict resolution in Kapedo location. A recommendation is made that other than the use of military force, a multi-level taskforce ought to be formed to oversee the use of dialogue as a means of conflict resolution. Similarly, the study recommends that the relationship between culture and conflict resolution among the pastoralists need to be independently researched.