Farmers and pastoralists conflicts among neighboring communities in Isiolo South Sub- County, Kenya

Frederick Maelo

doi:10.51867/ajernet.7.1.59

Authors

Frederick Maelo Durban University of Technology, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7842-946X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.7.1.59

Keywords:

Farmers, Inter-Communal Conflict, Pastoralists, Small Arms

Abstract

Farmer-herder conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa have become a significant security threat. This nature of conflict is driven by climate change, resource scarcity, land tenure insecurity, and ethnic tensions. However, the nature of conflicts may be escalated or provoked by other historical factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate the nature of conflicts and the impacts of conflict between the Borana, Somali and Meru communities. This study was guided by social learning and conflict transformation theories. The study adopted a qualitative research design to assess farmer-pastoralist conflict between the Borana and Meru communities. The study collected qualitative data. The study targeted 44,490 persons living in Isiolo South. The participants in this study included residents, police officers, administrative leaders, and six nongovernment organisations (NGO) representatives. The participants were collected using a structured interview schedule. Data collected was analysed using thematic analysis. The study identified resource competition, land disputes, cultural practices, and livelihoods as key drivers of farmer-pastoralist conflicts in Isiolo South. These conflicts were fuelled by the commercialisation of cattle raids, political influence, and weak governance. The study further found that displacement, loss of livelihoods, and breakdown of social cohesion were social implications of farmer-pastoralist conflicts identified in Borana and Meru communities’ conflicts. The study found that intercommunal conflict between the Borana and Meru communities is driven by culturally rooted cattle raiding, which has evolved into a commercial and politically influenced activity.This study recommends strengthening local peace committees and intercommunity dialogue frameworks to build peace and prevail over disputes emerging from grazing and water resources, especially during the drought-induced migration.

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