Factors Contributing to Conflict Among the Pastoral Communities: the Case of Baringo South Sub - County, Baringo County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors contributing to conflict among pastoralist communities: The case of Baringo southsubcounty. The objectives that guided the this study are; to determine the contribution of competition over resources on conflicts among pastoral communities in Baringo County, to identify the contribution of cultural practices on conflict among the pastoralists communities in in Baringo South Sub - County County, to establish the contribution of the customary conflicts management on conflict among the pastoralists communities in in Baringo South Sub - County County and to assess the contribution of livestock raids on conflict among the pastoralists communities in in Baringo South Sub - County County. The research design that was used to collect data is descriptive survey deign from respondents who were Moran leaders involved in cattle rustling and raids. Additionally, village elders and chiefs were also recruited into the study. A sample of 59 respondents including 30 Morans leaders, 25 village elders and 4 chiefs were selected using purposive sampling technique. Descriptive data statistics was used to analyze data collected from the questionnaires and organized into frequencies and percentages that were co to give emphasis on the response. This study found out that there was competition over available resources and this contribute to conflicts among pastoral communities in Baringo South Sub- County. Furthermore, these communities experienced raids and retaliatory attacks among themselves and that these often contribute to conflicts in the county. Traditional conflict management was also found to be eroding and that it also contributed to conflicts among the communities in the county. Finally, the study found out that some cultural practices contribute to conflicts among the pastoral communities in the county. This study recommended that the stakeholders from the community, including the national and the county government, should assist in the provision of the scarce resources which are vital for their livelihoods such drilling water points, solving land issues, and encourage the pastoralists to keep adequate number of livestock which can be sustained by the grazing pastures. The communities should also be encouraged to engage in other income generating activities like farming. There is need to educate the pastoral communities to embrace peaceful coexistence with each other to reduce raids and counter attack. The traditional conflict management practices from the communities should be integrated into conflict resolutions as this could help minimise the violent conflicts among these pastoral communities. The communities should also be sensitized against bad cultural practices which promote violent conflicts and provided with alternative ways for appreciating ones achievement such as sports.