Genesis and Evolution of the Bandit Economy in Baringo Lowland, Kenya
##article.abstract##
Banditry among pastoral communities in Kenya has been in the upsurge since the colonial period. There has been a significant rise in reported cases of banditry attacks with devastating results among communities of Baringo Lowland of Baringo County in Kenya. Due to the loss of lives and disruption of economies of the pastoral communities in the area, the study examined the various historical socio-economic causes of the bandit economy in the zone. The study employed in-depth interviews with elders, youths and organized focus group discussions in Loruk, Mukutani and Kinyach areas of the lowland which is the theatre of constant attack and counter attacks by the Pokot, Tugen and Il Chamus communities. The oral evidence complements archival and documented evidence. The data was qualitatively analysed. The study adopted exploratory research design. Human Needs Theory was adopted for this study. The study reveals the socio-economic factors contributed to the bandit economy in the lowland from 1900. They include: increased population, demands for bride wealth payment, pressure to prove their masculinity after initiation, and infiltration of small arms. These were noted as the main factors that have continued to fuel banditry. The study, recommends a paradigm shift in social economic culturalisation and government, Non-Government and other development partners to focus on engaging the local communities and creating alternative sources of livelihoods that will combat the banditry menace.
References
Anderson, D. M. (2006). Eroding the Commons: The politics of ecology in Baringo, 1890-1963 (Ecology & History). Ohio University Press.
Anderson, D. M. (2016). The beginning of Time? Evidence for catastrophic drought in Baringo in the early Nineteenth century. Journal of East African Studies, 10, p. 45-66.
Chesikaw, M. (2019). Learning from the indigenous: The Orror marriage process. Kenya Literature Bureau.
Hennings, R. O. (1951). African Morning. Chatto and Windus.
Kandagor, R. D. (2010). Rethinking British rule and “native” economies in Kenya: Tugeneconomic transformation, 1895-1963. Pangolin Publishers Limited.
Kimaiyo, M. D. (2016). Women Involvement in Cattle Rustling Between the Marakwet and the Pokot Communities of North-Western Kenya. (PhD Thesis). University of Nairobi.
Kipkorir, B. E. (2009). Descent from Cherang’any Hills: Memoirs of a reluctant academic. Macmillan Kenya (Publishers) Limited.
Kipkulei, B.K. (1972). The Origins, Migration and Settlements of the Tugen People from the Earliest Times to the turn of 20th Century. (B.A Dissertation). University of Nairobi.
Kiptui, M. (2021). The philosophy, culture and resource sharing systems among pastoral communities. Utafiti Foundation.
Osamba, J. O. (2001). “Peace Building and Transformation from Below: Indigenous Approaches to Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation among the pastoral societies in the Borderlands of Eastern Africa”. ACCORD African Journal of Conflict Resolution. 1(2), pp.1-26.
