Climate Change, Resource Competition, and Conflict amongst Pastoral Communities in Kenya

Abstract

This chapter tries to understand climate change, resource competition, and conflict amongst pastoral communities, and argues that violent conflict involving pastoralists is associated with resource competition which is, among other factors such as interstate and intercommunal tensions and political instabilities, aggravated by climate change. Conflicts among the pastoral communities have become very common and increasingly relentless in the northern region of Kenya. Specifically, the chapter documents the evidence of climate change in the pastoral areas in Kenya, determines the effects of climate change on pastoralist livelihoods in Kenya, and discusses the effects of climate change on resource-based conflicts among the pastoral communities of Kenya. Primary data was obtained from a total of 45 primary pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, and key informants. Four focus group discussions with ten participants each were conducted in Matuu. The interviews were conducted in order to find out how climate has changed and how this has affected pastoralism. Secondary data was utilized in literature analysis. These resources were obtained from Kenyatta University Library, University of Nairobi, and from the Internet. Primary data was qualitatively analysed. The main findings are that resource competition among the pastoralists is indeed exacerbating resource competition and consequential conflict.