Examining the influence of sports for peace and development on socio economic outcomes: a case study of a sports program in Garissa Town

Abstract

Sports programs have the potential to unite diverse communities by providing a platform where individuals from different backgrounds can come together, play on the same team, and build friendships. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of sports on peace and development and its impact on socio-economic outcomes in Garissa County, Kenya. Specifically, it sought to: assess the effects of sports programs on socio-economic outcomes; examine the role of sports in peacebuilding; evaluate the impact of sports infrastructure; and explore the effects of peacebuilding and social integration on socio-economic outcomes in the county. It adopted a pragmatic research philosophy and employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating both quantitative and qualitative research designs. The target population included 1,200 youth participants in sports programs and 110 local stakeholders involved in sports initiatives. A stratified random sampling technique was used to ensure a representative sample, with a final sample size of 93 respondents. A descriptive research design was applied, and quantitative data were analyzed using statistical techniques such as descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression modeling to examine the relationship between sports interventions and socio-economic outcomes. Ethical approval was obtained from the SU-IERB (Research Ethics Board), and a research permit was secured from NACOSTI (National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation). The study found that sports programs significantly improve socio-economic outcomes in Garissa County, with 76.05% of outcome variance explained by the model (R² = 0.7605). All four variables showed statistically significant positive relationships: sports programs (β = 0.523, p<0.000), peace-building initiatives (β = 0.410, p=0.001), sports infrastructure (β = 0.421, p<0.000), and social integration (β = 0.389, p<0.000). These results confirm that sports-related interventions contribute substantially to sustainable socio-economic development in the region. Based on these findings, the study concluded that sports programs play a crucial role in socio-economic development in Garissa Town. Their contribution to skills development, community integration, and economic opportunities underscores their significance in shaping the region’s socio-economic landscape. Consequently, the study recommends that local authorities and stakeholders invest strategically in sports infrastructure, integrate peacebuilding initiatives into sports programs, empower youth through sports, and foster public-private partnerships to support sustainable sports development.