The Impact of Socio-economic Activities on Communal Security: a Case Study of Turkana Fishermen and Lower Omo Agropastoralists on Lake Turkana.

Abstract

Security studies in International Relations are evolving and expanding. To this end, contemporary issues such as environmental and particularly water scarcity issues increasingly need to be addressed as water is a key natural resource that can be commercialised, privatized, politicised and in extreme cases, weaponized. This study assesses the impact of socio-economic activities on communal security. The case study research design is used in this study with a specific focus on Turkana fishermen and Lower Omo agro pastoralists. The area of study is Lake Turkana specifically in Kalokol and Lokitaung, where data was collected from both fishermen and agro pastoralists. The data was collected from in person interviews. The target population totalled to 20 individuals. The data collected was categorized into themes, and then analysed through narrative analysis and triangulated against already existing literature as well as theory to produce clarification, verification, and corroboration of the findings. The study concludes that socio-economic activities on Lake Turkana contribute to conflict at the Kenya-Ethiopia border and that there is need forclear elaboration through an agreement, on how the waters of the Omo River and Lake Turkana need to be used to prevent future breakout of conflict. This is particularly important because of the great dependence of Lake Turkana on the Omo River. From the findings, the recommendations given include creation of a transboundary water agreement which takes into consideration the communities around the Turkana Basina and the Omo Delta, and their use of the water of both the Omo River and Lake Turkana, innovation to diversify the communities‟ socio-economic activities, further development of the region in order to promote peaceful co-existence of the inhabitants, as well as further academic research of the region to expand the literature on water issues in the region.