Baraka, Eliud Gachie2025-03-042025-03-042025-08https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/29688A research thesis submitted to the school of law, arts and social sciences in fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of doctor of philosophy (security studies) of Kenyatta University, August 2024 Supervisosrs: Dr. Ann merecia sirera Prof. George otieno ong’amoDesert locusts, as invasive phytophagous pests, pose substantial risk to farmlands,pasturelands and rangelands, necessitating urgent, extreme and large-scale risk management practices to safeguard lives and livelihoods. However, these securitized desert locust management practices can unintentionally impact human security negatively. This study therefore sought to assess the relationship between desert locust risk management and human security in Kenya using securitization and resilience theories. Mixed methods research design using ex-post facto evaluation and crosssectional survey which combined qualitative and quantitative methodologies, were employed. The research targeted a sample of 900 respondents who were impacted by the desert locusts. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and focus group discussions. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive (frequencies and percentages) and inferential statistics (ordinal logistic regression) with the help of Statistical packages for social sciences and presented in tables and graphs. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic review and incorporated as narratives in the discussion. The findings revealed that desert locusts impacted food, economic, health, personal, and environmental security, contributing 27%, 19%, 19%, 18%, and 17% to the overall human security risk, respectively. Use of chemical control, recovery programs, physical control, surveillance activities, and indigenous technical knowledge, led to risk reduction rates of 43%, 16%, 16%, 15%, and 10%, respectively. Nevertheless, securitization posed inadvertent threat to economic, environmental, health, food, personal, and political security, resulting in 23%, 20%, 16%, 15%, 14%, and 12% of unforeseen risk, respectively. In addition, the research highlighted limitations in human resources, geographical difficulties, technical complexities, coordination hurdles, financial constraints, political pressure, and socio-cultural dynamics as operational challenges which led to 17%, 16%, 15%, 15%, 13%, 12%, and 12% impediment to desert locust management, respectively. Based on the results, integrated pest management, early interventions using pesticides, early interventions through physical control, and non-intervention received 34%, 28%, 24% and 14% support from respondents as preferred desert locust risk management best practices, respectively. The study concludes that although securitization of interventions had positive effects on managing desert locust risks, it also threatened human security in various ways, with the dangers being exacerbated further by challenges associated with securitized operations. The study recommends implementation of a customized integrated pest management program to efficiently manage the benefits and risks of securitizing desert locust management, while also resolving operational difficultenThesis