Abstract

The final goal of any university is to create a productive, collaborative and smooth environment for positive learning outcomes. However, there are cases where students are engaged in some conflicts that create impediments in their day-to-day educational performances. In order to manage persistent student conflicts in universities, both government and university administration have come up with various peace programmes.  Statistics indicate that the number of students conflicts have increased from 0.9% in the 1990s to 7.5% in the last decade. Therefore, this study investigated opportunities and challenges in peace programmes employed in managing of student conflicts in public universities in Western Kenya. The study adopted descriptive survey and evaluation research design and based in selected universities in Western, Kenya. The study targeted students, academic staff and non-academic staff from the four universities within Western Kenya. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaire and interview guides as well as focus group discussions. Data was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative techniques. Apart from students, other actors in student conflicts are staff, administration, politicians, community and police. The main cause of student conflicts was university policies. The effectiveness of peace programs in managing of student conflicts was at 23.9%. The overall conclusion of the study is that effectiveness of existing peace programmes is not adequate to manage student conflicts in public university in Kenya due to challenges, however, exploiting the opportunities can enhance their effectiveness. The study recommended that early conflict warning signs, often noticeable in their very nature should not be treated laggingly and reactively but proactively to lessen the nature they take in the end.