• Conflict and pastoralism

Conflict and pastoralism

This report describes and analyses relationships between natural resource-based conflicts and pastoral livelihoods in Wajir District, Kenya in order to examine the extent to which livelihood opportunities are lost to people when they spend their time and resources managing water related conflicts.

The study findings confirm the assumption that water is a critical resource that determines success of pastoralism as a way of life in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). Availability of water determines where people and livestock settle in during the different months of any given year. During the dry season, all the temporary water sources dry up so that people rely solely on boreholes. Over-concentration of pastoralists in a few areas leads to competition for the limited water, resulting in conflicts. These conflicts in turn have a negative impact as valuable resources are diverted to its management at the expense of provision for basic needs.

The report finds that the impact of conflicts at the household level include, among others:

• reduced access to food (69 per cent)
• interruptions in education (61 per cent)
• health care services (59 per cent)
• trade (63 per cent)
• reduction in the number of livestock through raids (66 per cent)
• loss of life and property
• lack of water
• degeneration of social relationships
• forced migration of families and livestock
• negative psychological and social impact of death
• closure of the borehole
• intensified insecurity leading to reduced outdoor activities

These are serious implications to a people already experiencing figures below the national average in basics like health, education and nutrition.

However the findings also indicate that local people desire peace, as demonstrated through the amount of time and resources spent on the prevention and management of arising conflicts. Development of the following supportive sectors, the report suggests, will assist in sustainable water resource management and reducing conflict:

• development of infrastructure
• capacity-building of intermediate institutions to in turn strengthen community-based organisations
• setting up of effective drought monitoring and early warning systems
• recognising the important role of ASALs and especially pastoralism to the national economy, and supporting the same through enactment of relevant policy and legislation
• initiating programmes aimed at harmonising traditional and modern systems for managing resources and conflicts

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