Post Graduate In Security And Strategic Studies Water Resource Conservation And Conflicts Prevention In Embobut Forest Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya

Abstract

Highland forest areas play a crucial role in the supply of freshwater to humankind. The forests comprise the upstream part of the rivers beneath it, and the fresh water is used for domestics use, e.g. drinking and other purposes such as irrigation, watering animals, generating hydropower and transportation. Population growth and immigration ultimately puts natural resources, and in particular water under strain. This creates a fertile ground for conflicts between protagonists of the resource. The main objective of this study was to assess the complex ecological and socioeconomic dynamics prevailing in the highland-lowland system of the Embobut East, Elgeyo-Marakwet County. The specific objectives of the study were to assess the ecological changes, socioeconomic dynamics, and nature of the conflicts prevailing in the highland-lowland system of Embobut East with a bid to formulate a multi-level strategy for mitigating imminent conflicts over water resources. The study was based on the neo-Malthusian view, where rapid population growth, environmental degradation, resource depletion and unequal resource access combine to exacerbate poverty and income inequality in many areas of the world. The study area was confined to the physical area of Embobut East forest area that comprise, both the forest area, the escarpment and the lowland (valley) of Marakwet East sub-county. The researcher adopted descriptive research design. The study was carried out in Chebilil, Chesegon and Tots town ships and its environs. The study targeted all the 1018 households living in the escarpment and the Valley East of Embobut forest as per the 1999 KNBS census. Probability sampling was chosen, where Krejcie and Morgan (1976) was used to obtain the sample size. Stratified and systematic sampling was adopted for the study. Households were selected usinselected usinselected usinselected usinselected using simple randomg simple randomg simple randomg simple randomg simple randomg simple randomg simple random sampling in their various categories. Purposive sampling was used to select 18 officers drawn officers drawn officers drawn officers drawn officers drawn officers drawn officers drawn officers drawn from state and NGO’s. from state and NGO’s. from state and NGO’s. from state and NGO’s. from state and NGO’s. from state and NGO’s. from state and NGO’s. from state and NGO’s. from state and NGO’s. from state and NGO’s. from state and NGO’s. Questionnaires that were structured plus interview guides were utilized to obtain the primary data. Secondary data comprised a collection of recordings from meteorological stations and river gauge stations. The data was analyzed using standard hydrological statistical methods (NRMT, 2004) and SPSS. The findings of the study will aid a blue-print towards mitigating conflicts arising from water resource.