Tribal Conflict and its Impact on Islamic Da'wah (Moyale City as a Case Study)

Abstract

This study examines the impact of tribal conflict on Islamic da‘wah (religious outreach) in Moyale, a strategic border town between Kenya and Ethiopia, presenting it as a representative case for multi-tribal frontier communities characterized by social, political, and cultural intertwinement. The research addresses a central question: how does recurrent tribal conflict affect Muslim cohesion, the credibility and mobility of preachers, and the performance of religious and educational institutions, and what Sharia‑based and community‑driven mechanisms can mitigate these effects and rebuild a coherent da‘wah environment? Methodologically, the study employs a descriptive–analytical approach and relies on field-based data collection tools, including interviews, questionnaires, and direct observation, to trace the conflict’s roots, drivers, and patterns and to analyze its ramifications for da‘wah in Moyale. Findings indicate that the conflict is multi-causal and reinforced by:

 (1) Competition over scarce natural resources (water, grazing land, and territory) in a semi-arid context prone to recurrent drought.

(2) Political and electoral rivalry over local power and access to public resources under decentralization.

(3) The proliferation of small arms and the borderland dynamics that complicate control and enforcement.

 (4) The intergenerational transmission of grievances through revenge norms and collective memory, transforming conflict.