Assessment of Banditry, Cattle Rustling and Insecurity Nexus in North West Kenya
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Date
2023
Authors
Musau, Daniel Muange
Ichani, Xavier Francis
Mulu, Francis
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
JAIS
Abstract
Banditry and cattle rustling in North West Kenya pose a serious threat to security in the
country. The negative impact of violent banditry and cattle rustling in North West Kenya is
heavily felt in terms of social disorder and economic disruption especially loss of human life
and property destruction. Vicious cycles of insecurity in the region coupled with the
prolonged deployment of security forces are an area of concern Given the strong reluctance
by scholars to publish works of banditry, this article will add to the existing literature. The
paper posits that banditry and cattle rustling has evolved their methods and tactics to lethal
militants reigning terror to the citizen and security personnel. The drivers of the modern
banditry and cattle rustling in the region are unique together with the attendant causes since
they continued fueling incessant insecurity with dire consequences. The study was anchored
with a revisionist theory which is germane to the study due to its perspective on national
security adopting a modern approach that is more human-centric than the traditional statecentric approach. With reference to banditry in North West Kenya, this article adopted a
descriptive method to examine the connection between banditry and threat to security as well
as describe the historical background of banditry, drivers of banditry, the threat posed by
banditry to security, key raging debates concerning banditry and consequences of banditry.
The paper suggests that a number of factors, including the lack of government control, high
unemployment rates, poverty, a lack of social purpose (in the form of archaic cultural
practices), political influence, illiteracy, competition for scarce resources, and the
proliferation of small arms, are fueling the rise of banditry in Kenya's northwestern region.
In the concluding reflections, the study strived to proffer academic recommendations and
appropriate strategies for the governments, security agencies, and multi agencies to reduce
the banditry problem in North West Kenya. From the general public, 120 respondents were
chosen as the sample size. The study, which relied on secondary data, found that
contemporary banditry constituted a serious threat to national security. The recommendations
informed the conclusion of the study.
Description
Article
Keywords
Kenya, Banditry, Cattle Rustling, Pastoral Economy, Insecurity, Northern Kenya