RP-School of Security, Diplomacy and Peace Studies

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Browsing RP-School of Security, Diplomacy and Peace Studies by Author "Gachie, Eliud Baraka"

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    Policing Pests on Plants: Securitisation of Desert Locust Management to Protect Human Security
    (Path of Science, 2024-01-31) Gachie, Eliud Baraka; Sirera, Ann Merecia; Ong’amo, George Otieno
    The gregarious desert locust is one of the most dangerous pests that require urgent and extreme interventions. The study, therefore, sought to analyse desert locust management practices that were securitised to protect human security in Kenya. The study employed a mixed methods approach using ex-post facto evaluation and cross-sectional survey designs. The target population included desert locust-affected persons. A multi-stage sampling approach using stratified and purposive sampling techniques was used to target a sample size of 900 respondents drawn from 30 counties affected by desert locusts. Structured questionnaires and focus group discussions (FGD) were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data was analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics using frequencies, percentages and ordinal logistic regression. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis and incorporated in the discussion. The results showed the securitisation of chemical control, recovery programs, physical control, surveillance and indigenous technical knowledge and skills (ITKS), contributing 43%, 16%, 16%, 15% and 10% in safeguarding human security against desert locust risks. From the findings, the study concludes that all the phases of managing desert locusts were securitised to protect human security. Since the securitisation of chemical control had the highest contribution in protecting human security against desert locust risks, the study recommends research on applying biological pesticides rather than synthetic insecticides.
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    The Dilemma of Balancing between Benefits and Risks: Desert Locust Management Best Practices
    (Path of Science, 2023-09-30) Gachie, Eliud Baraka; Sirera, Ann Merecia; Ong’amo, George Otieno
    While desert locusts threaten human security, their management can introduce unintended risks, leading to a normative dilemma. Therefore, this study sought to determine desert locust management best practices that can protect human security from pests and management practices in Kenya. The analysis used ex-post facto evaluation and cross-sectional survey designs. The target population included desert locust-affected persons. A multi-stage sampling approach using stratified and purposive random sampling techniques was used to target a sample size of 900 respondents. Structured questionnaires and focus group discussions (FGD) were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data was analysed using frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis and incorporated in the discussion. The findings revealed that there were several possible desert locust management best practices. The study concludes that the integrated pest management (IPM) approach presents the most preferred opportunity to build resilience against human resource, technical and financial challenges through the progressive use of readily available knowledge and skills during physical control before advancing to more sophisticated strategies such as biological and chemical control options. The study recommends that scholars, policymakers and practitioners develop a customised IPM strategy for desert locust management in Kenya.