Climate Change, Proliferation Of Small Arms Blamed For Increased Insecurity in Northern Counties

NAKURU, Kenya, Dec, 9 – Climate change globally has been identified as the leading cause of the world’s major challenges to date.

In Kenya, despite contributing less than one percent of the current global greenhouse emissions, the country sits at number 31 as the most vulnerable nation to climate change.

“In the last two years, we witnessed the worst locust outbreak in 25 years, which left about one million people food-insecure in the Horn of Africa. The rising water levels of the Rift Valley Lakes, Lake Victoria, and Turkwel Gorge Dam have displaced nearly 400,000 people in thirteen counties and affected biodiversity, including flamingoes in Lake Nakuru,” said President Kenyatta during the devolution conference in Makueni county.

Another vice brought about by climate change is the increased cases of insecurity, particularly in the country’s northern counties. They include Samburu, Baringo, Laikipia and Turkana counties.

A leaders meeting in Naivasha identified climate change as an origin of endless hostilities in the affected areas, where locals have engaged in wars over water and grazing lands.

Cattle rustling has been blamed for the death of several people including police officers in the affected areas.

Incidents of violence have even led the government to declare Laikipia county a security operation zone as a multi-agency security team was deployed to the area.

“These bandits seem to have easy access to guns. In turn, cattle rustling has increased in the region. We have a high presence of thousands of military officers in the three counties but the stolen animals have never been recovered,” said Samburu Deputy Governor Julius Leseeto.

Samburu has since resulted in hiring scouts to monitor incidents of cattle rustling in the county and warn residents in case of an imminent attack.

“We support calls to disarm the armed pastoralists as the national and county governments address the issues of the shared resources which are the main cause of conflict,” he said.

The Executive Director, Resource Conflict Institute (RECONCILE) Ken Otieno said there was a rise in conflict around the rangelands as communities sought pasture and water.

“We are working closely with the county governments in addressing what triggers these conflicts even as we promote sustainable land use,” he said.

Residents have been urged to use local administrators in resolving conflicts.