The Impact of Inter-communal Violent Conflicts on Kenya’s National Security: the Case of Baragoi Sub County (2007-2016)

Abstract

This study sought to establish the impact of the inter-communal violent conflicts on Kenya’s national security in Baragoi Sub County. The study sought to answer the following questions. To what extent does community conflicts impact on Kenya’s National Security, how has the existing inter-community violent conflict in Baragoi area impacted on the lives and properties of the residents of Samburu County? And what security implications does the community conflict in Baragoi area have on Kenya’s ability to protect the lives of her citizens and their property’s? This study was guided by the following objectives, determining the extent to which community conflicts impacts on Kenya’s National Security, determining the extent to which the intercommunity violent conflicts has impacted on levels and properties of the communities living in Baragoi area, and assessing the security implications that the existing community conflicts in Baragoi area have on Kenya’s ability to protect its citizens and their property. This study was anchored on the theory of protracted social conflict as it was advanced by Edward Azar whereby the theory argued that individual subscribes to their ethnic groups which have group interests. This study found out that tribalism and negative ethnicity, problem of unclear demarcation of boundaries, cattle rustling, negative cultural practices, were the major causes of inter-communal nonviolent conflicts. The impact of these conflicts were both political, social and economic, The study recommends that; the national government should partner with the county government of Samburu and other peace organizations so as to drill more water points in all villages in Baragoi Sub County, secondly, county government of Samburu should create more conservancies in Baragoi area so as to ensure that the morans are positively engaged in protecting the conservancy, thirdly the national government should popularize and strengthen the Nyumba- Kumi initiative in Baragoi area. Fourthly the county government of Samburu County is encouraged to be cautious enough of the diversity of its county and avoid acts that will create a negative perception hence escalation of violence, finally the county government Samburu should sponsor more peace caravans or peace campaigns in Baragoi area where the residents will sensitized on the need to keep peace throughout