Gender Transformation in Cattle Rustling and Its Implications on Security Management in West Pokot County, Kenya
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Date
2021
Authors
Kimani, Andrew Gitau
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine gender transformation in cattle rustling and its
implications on security management in West Pokot County in Kenya. Insecurity in some sections
of Kenya especially the North Rift and North Eastern, has been in the past threatened any
meaningful development. Further cattle rustling has metamorphosized from a traditional practice to
organized crime where lives are lost and property destroyed; which has negatively impacted
peopleās livelihoods and has posed a challenge to security management. The study therefore,
sought to establish gender transformation in the practice of cattle rustling and its implication for
security management. The study objectives were; to explain the gender transformation in cattle
rustling among the Pokot community, to determine the effects of gender relations on cattle rustling
among the Pokot community, to assess the effects of transformation in cattle rustling on security
management in West Pokot, to evaluate from a gender perspective the strategies put in place to
curb cattle rustling in West Pokot County. The study was anchored on Social Cubism Theory and
the Harvard analytical framework. The independent variable for the study was gender
transformation which included: role of men, gender relations, role of women and changes in
identities ; whereas the dependent variable was security management which included: Security
apparatus/committees, gender equality in the security composition officers, Law enforcement
agencies, disarmament initiatives and reintegration and intervening variables were Kenyan
Laws/Penal code ,the two thirds gender rule ,C.o.K (2010) and Mifugo Protocol. The outcome of
the variables included: peace, development of infrastructure ,security enhancement, women
leadership, high literacy level ,high school transition rate by both boys and girls, alternative and
diversified livelihoods. The study involved 350 respondents (210 men and 140 women) selected
from adult residents of Pokot community, community elders, opinion leaders, political and
administrative leaders, the local youth, women and men as well as local and international NGOs
dealing with cattle rustling issues in West Pokot County. Data collection instruments included
questionnaires with closed and open-ended questions, key informant interview guide, FGD guide
and an observation checklist. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to select
men and women who participated in the study. Content and construct validity of research
instruments were determined using a pilot study and review of empirical and theoretical literature
respectively. The coefficient of internal consistency was used to measure the reliability of the
questionnaire. Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data while Descriptive and
Inferential statistics were used to analyze quantitative data. The key findings included: cattle
rustling was once a cultural activity with structured rules and taboos for both men and women but
has now become a murderous criminal endeavor; gender relations have changed over time as a
result of cattle rustling; security implications, costs and solutions to cattle rustling do not take into
account the impact of gender and hence are ineffective and lastly, some of the strategies applied to
curb cattle rustling were fair while a few were considered to be rather extreme. The study
concluded that significant changes have taken place in the practice of cattle rustling in West Pokot.
Thus, it is no longer a communal practice that ensures the sustenance of the community.
Contemporary cattle rustling is a rather radical and disjointed practice that is shunned by both men
and women because of its negative consequences. The study recommended that appropriate
approaches that involve men and women such as peace talks, enlightenment on contemporary ways
of livelihoods to help the Pokot community adopt alternative sources of livelihood. The study also
recommends the use of more advanced technologies to enable cattle identification and tracking,
sensitization on laws criminalizing cattle rustling and ensuring full-scale prosecution of its actors.
Finally, the study gave a suggestion for further studies on cattle jacking as an emerging security
concern in the region.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the School of Security Diplomacy and Peace Studies in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Doctor of Philosophy in Security Studies of Kenyatta University, May, 2021
Keywords
Gender Transformation, Cattle Rustling, Implications, Security Management, West Pokot County, Kenya