Role of kinship social structures in anti-livestock rustling policy implementation in Kuria West sub-county, Kenya

Abstract

Livestock rustling is a global problem that requires concerted stakeholder interventions. In Kenya, despite dedicated state interventions, including the enactment of anti-livestock rustling policies, the frequency of livestock rustling has not dissipated. This indicates a policy implementation deficiency with regard to stakeholder and agenda inclusivity. This study investigated the influence of kinship social structures on policy implementation against livestock rustling. The study was anchored in the ecological theory of public administration and social control theory. It employed a mixed research design to help collect and analyze data on kinship social networks and their contribution to the implementation of anti-livestock rustling policy and regulations in Kuria West Sub-County. The study was conducted in Kuria West, an arable zone in Kenya, to provide valuable insights on the dynamics of livestock rustling in contrast to its conventional perception as a pastoralist norm characteristic of arid and semi-arid zones. The target population of the study was households and government actors, for instance, deputy county commissioners, chiefs, assistant chiefs, village heads, and the council of elders. The sample size of this study was 496 respondents, consisting of 396 household heads, 47 government actors, and 50 council of elders that were randomly and purposively selected. Methods of data collection included a household questionnaire, interviews with government actors, and focused group discussions with the council of elders. The study adopted Cronbach’s metrics of alpha to determine the internal consistency of the instrument. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages), while qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis. Collected data was presented in tables. The study findings established that kinship social structures significantly influence anti-livestock rustling policy implementation in Kuria West, Kenya. The study concludes that collaborative governance models that incorporate clan leaders, recognize cultural contexts, and strengthen formal-informal coordination offer the most promising pathway to sustainable, inclusive solutions to livestock rustling.