Effect of trust-building strategies on collaborative peace initiatives in Kenya: a case of the International Organization for Peacebuilding (Interpeace) in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

This study examined the effect of trust-building strategies on collaborative peace-building at the International Organization for Peacebuilding (Interpeace), Nairobi, Kenya. Specifically, the study aimed to determine the role of transparency in enhancing collaborative peace-building initiatives, determine the effectiveness of accountability mechanisms, evaluate how cultural sensitivity influences peace-building success, and determine the impact of involving local peace-building NGOs in the planning and implementation of peace-building projects. The study was guided by Contingency Theory and Trust Theory. The study adopted a positivist research philosophy and a descriptive cross-sectional research design, a census approach due to the small population size of 32 respondents. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires. Data collection followed a pick-and-drop method, where questionnaires were distributed in the first week of April 2025. The data was analyzed using SPSS v27, with descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviations) used for summarization and inferential statistics (multiple linear regression). The regression results revealed that transparency, accountability mechanisms, cultural sensitivity, and local NGO involvement are significant contributors to successful collaborative peace-building. The regression model showed a high proportion of variance explained, indicating that these factors are key drivers of successful outcomes. All four predictors were confirmed as statistically significant, with transparency, accountability, cultural sensitivity, and local NGO involvement each having a positive and significant effect on collaborative peace-building. The study concluded that transparency, accountability mechanisms, cultural sensitivity, and the involvement of local NGOs all significantly enhance collaborative peace-building initiatives at Interpeace. Each of these factors had a positive and significant effect on the success of peace-building efforts, demonstrating their crucial role in fostering effective collaboration and project outcomes. The study recommends strengthening transparency by regularly sharing financial and project updates, and institutionalizing accountability mechanisms like performance audits and grievance redress systems. Cultural sensitivity training should be enhanced, and local NGOs should be more actively involved in decision-making to ensure their perspectives are included in peace-building efforts. Further research should explore how Contingency Theory can be applied to peace-building in varying local contexts and examine how Trust Theory can be expanded to better understand how transparency and accountability influence trust-building across peace-building phases. The study advises enhancing community participation in all stages of peace-building projects and institutionalizing cultural sensitivity training for staff. Future research should examine the long-term impact of transparency and cultural sensitivity on peace-building, the role of local NGOs in sustaining outcomes, and conduct comparative studies of accountability mechanisms in different peace-building contexts to identify best practices.