Laxmana, Peter Kiptoo2026-04-272026-04-272023-05https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/32963A Thesis Submitted to the School of law, Arts and Social Sciences in Partial Fulf'illment of the Requirements for The Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (Security and Development) of the Kenyatta University. May 2023Food insecurity continues to be a major challenge in the world. By 2018, one-third of the global population experienced food insecurity. A greater proportion of the population that J*p.rien.ed food iniecurity were in Sub Sahara Africa (SSA), East and Horn-of Africa, and Northwestern Kenya including Kerio Valley. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to assess the nature of food insecurity and the drivers in Northwestern Kenya particularly Northem Kerio Basin, a semi-arid valley. More specifically, the objectives of tn. study were to assess the demographic characteristics of the local communities in Northern Iierio Valley Basin, the nature of food insecurity, the nature of agro-pastoral production, the effects ofresource-ethnic-conflicts on food insecurity, the effects ofthe environmental variability and to identify mitigation measures to achieve food security and development. The study site was Northern Kerio Valley, a triangle border consisting of Kolowa Ward of Tiaty in Baringo County, Endo Ward of Elgeyo Marakwet County, and Lomut Ward of the West Pokot County. The target population for the study was the 2600 households in which a sample size of 387 was determined using Yamane (1967) formula for finite and small populations. Qualitative data were collected through Key Informants Interviews (KIIs) and the Focused Group Discussions (FGDs). The primary quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire which also incorporated an adapted phased experience of food insecurity scale based on FAOIFSAU (2006) and IpiC/FAO (2015) to us."s the prevalence of food insecurity. The study established that Northem Kerio Basin was characterized by a young population, limited formal and vocational education, limited occupation opportunities and extensive poverty.The study established also that 98o/o of the households lived in a community or clan land, where B9%hadcustomary rights to use l-2 acresof land for the homestead and cultivation. The community (clan) land and limited access rights were associated with open resowce access andlimited agricultural innovation and production. The study established that60Yo of the households experienced three or more resource-ethnic conflicts in the last five years and61%reported r.r"r" impact on access to food and livelihoods; 90% of the households also experienced more tharthree drought cycles in the last five years and 70o/o reported severe impact on their access to food and livelihoods. More importantly, the study conciuded that 48% of the food insecurity had been influenced by the joint effects of environmental variability and resource-ethnic conflicts. The study recommended adoption of resilient and transformative agricultural production, and adoption of measures to mitigate environmental variability andietated resource conflicts; rethink and repurpose agriculiural production by embracing modemized agricultural practices; diversification of ugro-purtoral occupations in arid and semi-arid zones; carryout land reforms in North Kerio Vatley Basin with emphasis on land demarcation and adjudication with a view to enhance food production, udd..s the 'tragedy of commons, reduce environmental degradation and related resource conflicts. Adoption of measures that would mitigate eniironmental vulnerability including enhanced and modernized irrigation technologies and farm mechanization. Adopt measures that would enhance socio-economic empoweflnent, including expanded formal and vocational education and expanded occupation opportunities beyond the limited agro-pastoralismenThesis