Effectiveness Of Cattle Rustling Mitigation Strategies Among Pastoral Communities: A Case Of Loima Sub County, Turkana County

Abstract

Pastoralism is an activity of raising herds of animals for economic production that is done mostly in the Northern parts of Kenya and is within the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). The communities who live there have a long history of conflicts which revolves around natural resources like water, pasture and land. The limited resources and availability of arms has led to raiding which has become violent in the recent years. As such the study sought to understand the effectiveness of cattle rustling mitigation strategies among pastoral communities, a case of Loima Sub County in Turkana County. The study was guided by the following objectives: to assess the frequency of cattle rustling in Loima Sub County over the past five years; to determine the values attached to cattle rustling by the Turkana and Pokot communities; to assess the role of stakeholders in mitigating cattle rustling and to assess the effectiveness of cattle rustling mitigation efforts put in place over the past five years. The study adopted a descriptive survey with a study population comprising of 27 Key Informants and 112 members of the youth through focus group discussions. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and results presented in form of paragraphs, frequency tables, charts, graphs and narratives. The key findings of the study are that poverty is one of the reasons as to why conflict persisted in Loima Sub County. It was further established that changes in cultural settings which had been caused by a multiple of factors affecting these pastoralists had contributed to the prolonged and continued conflict. Revenge emanating from constant raids and violence was identified as a factor sustaining conflict in Turkana, while uneven disarmament initiatives by the government was also seen as encouraging acquisition of more and more arms in Loima Sub County. Proliferation of small arms and their availability in Loima prolonged and sustained conflict, as revealed by this study. Issues of governance were isolated by the residents of Loima to have led to the sustenance of the conflict. Complaints of forceful and indiscriminate disarmament, inadequate security personnel to combat cattle rustlers, insecurity were also pointed out as contributing to the protracted conflict, as well as poor infrastructure. Lack of development was seen to be caused by insecurity which had led to lack of investments and low trade, hence lack of development in the area. The study recommends that the Government should take a more positive approach by involving proper, investigative policing when dealing with reports of cattle thefts; and to respond urgently to pastoralist conflict replacing its reactive strategy with a more proactive one that seeks to equip its security forces. Further, it is recommended that the government, civil society and religious organizations should ensure that educational facilities are expanded in Loima Sub County. At policy level, the government should rethink its strategy of arming KPR as a counter force to armed cattle rustlers. The government and other stakeholders, including NGOs, CBOs and FBOs can make a huge difference in the development of Loima Sub County through increased funding of infrastructure