Assessment of Water Scarcity and Conflicts and Its Impact on Livelihoods, a Case Study of Baringo County

Abstract

The dwindling supply of water has been noted to be a precursor to very many conflicts in the globe today as many communities and countries are seeking to control the sources of this commodity. This study focused on assessing the impacts of water scarcity and conflict in Baringo County, a semi-arid region within the expansive Rift valley in the South-Western sections of Kenya and its effects on livelihoods. The major objectives of the study were to assess some of the factors that have led to water scarcity, to explain the extent to which scarcity of water might have led to conflicts as well as to evaluate some of the challenges that are facing Baringo county based on water scarcity and the consequences on the livelihoods of the residents of Baringo county and to assess the input of the local county government in promoting the distribution of water resources within Baringo county.The study undertook a quantitative strategy to establish the reasons behind water scarcity in the county. The methods of data collection used were questionnaires for the primary data and books, journals, and the internet for secondary data. A total sample of 120 respondents in Baringo County were sampled through stratified random sampling then interviewed through structured questionnaires to establish their response regarding water scarcity in the region. All the administered questionnaires were sorted and entered into the SPSS statistical software for analysis. The study concluded that water scarcity is an evident issue in Baringo County that results to feuds among communities. The study recommends the government to drill more boreholes at strategic points such as in schools and near homesteads to enhance accessibility of water. The study also recommends that the Baringo county communities get education on the significance of sustainable growth and development to alter their economic activities. The study recommends further studies to be done within the constituencies of Baringo County to establish the extent to which conflicts have been fuelled by water scarcity although these efforts have not yet achieved the intended supply level