Geographic determinants of inter-community conflicts in the Kerio Valley, Kenya: Implications for peace building

Kerio Valley has been marred by inter-community conflicts for decades that have caused numerous deaths and sufferings hampering development in the region. Inter-community conflicts have become more frequent and severe in recent years, aggrevated by both geo and anthropogenic factors and whose comparative significance is not clearly documented. Specifically, the study sought to examine the nexus between geo-factors and inter-community conflicts in Kerio Valley. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and key informant interviews. Data was analysed using frequencies, percentages and thematic technique. The findings reveal that inter-community conflict in Kerio Valley is characterized by deep rooted and recurring tensions, centred on livestock theft and retaliatory attack. The study found that geo-factors are a major contributor to inter-community conflicts in Kerio Valley with the most important geo-factors being drought (95%), terrain (89%), water resources (84.4%) and soil quality (78.7%). The study concluded that geo-factors exacerbates conflicts in Kerio Valley region by creating scarcity of environmental resources like pasture and water in line with Homer-Dixon environmental scarcity theory. The terrain of the area has also reduced the capacity of the state to manage environmental scarcity. The study recommends development of comprehensive peace building strategies that include environmental management projects that address land degradation, water scarcity, climatic stresses, and livelihood diversification.