Cattle Rustling and Insecurity: a Case Study of Baringo County, Kenya

Abstract

Cattle rustling has been identified as a major cause of insecurity in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) regions of Kenya. In order to address this issue, the government has taken several measures, such as establishing security agencies like the Anti-Stock Theft Unit and police reservists. However, despite these efforts, cattle rustling continues to persist, resulting in loss of human lives, property, and hindering development. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the strategies implemented by the Government of Kenya to combat cattle rustling and its associated insecurity. Guided by the Social Cubism Theory, the study was conducted in Baringo County, Kenya. A descriptive research design was employed, targeting law enforcement agencies and local residents of Baringo County. Quantitative data was collected through questionnaires, while qualitative data was gathered using interview guides. The collected data was analysed using descriptive statistics with the help of SPSS, as well as thematic analysis. The findings of the study revealed that culture plays a significant role in fuelling cattle rustling, which in turn contributes to insecurity. Some of the most favored strategies implemented by the government include disarmament of citizens and the deployment of enforcement officers. However, the involvement of local communities in these efforts yielded inconclusive results, as only a simple majority agreed that locals were actively engaged. The study also highlighted that the presence of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the hands of civilians perpetuates cattle rustling. Additionally, the deployment of law enforcement agencies was found to be ineffective, as was the strategy of branding to curb cattle rustling. Community-led strategies, such as meetings between elders of warring communities and the formation of peace committees, have not yielded convincing results, as cattle rustling remains prevalent. There are various challenges in curbing cattle rustling, including the lack of political support, inaccessible geographical terrain, harsh climatic conditions, ill-equipped and under-resourced security agencies, uncooperative communities, and language barriers with security agencies. Based on the study's findings, several recommendations are proposed. These include the implementation of Livestock Movement Regulation, utilizing traditional dispute resolution mechanisms to address rustling, revitalizing and enhancing the Nyumba Kumi security framework, signing the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Protocol on Transhumance, implementing a development framework to tackle underdevelopment and marginalization, and reviving the Mifugo 2021 Protocol to manage transnational rustling.