Resource Based Conflicts between White Settlers and Pastoralists in the Horn of Africa: A Case Study of Laikipia County in Kenya
Publisher: University of Nairobi
Author(s): Leming'Ani Charity Rynah
Date: 2017
Topics: Climate Change, Conflict Prevention, Dispute Resolution/Mediation, Land, Livelihoods, Programming, Renewable Resources
Countries: Kenya
The study assesses resource-based conflicts between the white settlers and pastoralists in Laikipia County. The study aims at identifying causes of conflicts among pastoral communities and the white settlers as well as evaluates the intervention mechanisms to the conflict. The study was anchored on the theoretical framework of relative deprivation, which contends that conflicts are caused by some key factors such as competition for resources that arise when manipulated by various actors like herders, pastoralist and political leaders among others. The methodology used in the study is a case study approach. Therefore, data for this study was obtained from primary data from surveys and secondary sources. This was descriptive contained in notes form. The data collected was structured along several thematic strands as guided by the objectives and presented along selected themes, maps, tables, pie charts among others. The main causes of ethnic conflicts include land, poverty, political incitement, and class animosity. The study found out that most conflicts in Laikipia County are mainly related to scarcity of natural resources, persistent drought as a result of climate change increases the strain in the already existing natural scarce resources which leads to conflict as people fight for grazing and farm land rights. The study also established that factors such as economic and political marginalization, resistance by pastoralist communities to assimilation, resource depletion and demographic changes, and the increasing availability of light weapons are among the major factors fueling conflicts in Laikipia County. Consequently, the study recommends a number of policies such as: promoting understanding and appreciation of conflicts, formulation and implementation of policies on peace building, strengthening of traditional peace building initiatives, promotion of conflict sensitivity and inter-sector mainstreaming of conflict management, mopping up of illegal weapons and building policy advocacy and lobbying capacities of local organizations and communities. As it is characterized by every multi-ethnic society, all actors in conflicts should ensure that a comprehensive approach to peace building and reconciliation must be aligned to the diversity of cultural world views. After the interpretation and discussion of the data, conclusions were drawn and recommendations for further research given.