TRENDS IN LIVESTOCK RUSTLING AND THE DYNAMICS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SAMBURU AND MARSABIT COUNTIES IN KENYA
Abstract
Livestock rustling remains a major cause of insecurity and conflict among the pastoral communities occupying the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) of Kenya. Since the year 2000 there has been an upsurge in incidences of livestock rustling, and a protracted use of advanced weaponry which has not only grown to become a major security threat to the lives of the pastoralists but also a key threat to their livelihoods which is anchored in the ownership of large herds of livestock. This study identified trends in livestock rustling and the dynamics of socio-economic development in Samburu and Marsabit Counties in Kenya, a specific focus on Marsabit and Samburu Counties of Kenya. The study was guided by Cattle Complex Theory. This study utilized the descriptive research and explanatory design. The study areas were Samburu and Marsabit counties and it targeted household heads, herder, market chairmen, politicians, chiefs and officer commanding police stations. Simple random, purposive and snowballing sampling procedures were used to select 384 respondents from the above key informants. The main research instruments were questionnaires (instrument) in addition to face to face interviews and FGDs. Validity was determined using content validity while reliability using test retest method. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21. Quantitative data was analysed using percentages, frequencies and chi-square at 0.05 significance level. Qualitative data was analysed using emerging themes and presented in form of verbatim and narrations. The results revealed that there were new trends in livestock rustling which had impacted on the socio-economic development of Samburu and Marsabit counties. The study recommended that there is need to establish resource centers for awareness creation and sensitization on the livestock rustling. Additionally, there should be legislations on arms and commercialization of livestock rustling which would ensure the perpetrators are charged. This coupled with improved infrastructure will contain the escalation the crime. Lastly, there was need to provide compulsory formal education which will change the mind-set of the youth who would in turn appreciate life beyond livestock rustling.
Key words: Livestock Rustling, Trends in Livestock Resulting, socio-economic development
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.61426/sjbcm.v3i4.391
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