DISARMAMENT AND ITS EFFECTS ON INSECURITY IN BARINGO COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Globally, insecurity is a common occurrence, touching all domains of life. Political, social, economic, financial, and environmental. In 2023, the effects of insecurity were estimated to have costed countries worldwide an approximate of 19.1 trillion USD. African continent bears the brunt of this cost, with most of the security fragile countries, Kenya inclusive. In the Kerio valley region of Kenya, particularly Baringo county, Insecurity has existed over several decades, fueled by the proliferation of illicit firearms in the hands of civilians. The arms thus fuel insecurity through cattle rustling, banditry and revenge attacks. Despite the efforts by government to disarm the civilians, insecurity by the illegal firearms keep rising. The study therefore sought to determine the effects of disarmament, a government operation in reducing insecurity in Baringo County. Descriptive research design guided the study that targeted 120 key stakeholders in the security docket and the disarmament exercise. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedules, qualitative data analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis and presented in tables and themes. Research authorization was sought from Kenyatta university and research permit from NACOSTI.  The result revealed that disarmament reduced insecurity, were effective, reduced banditry and cattle rustling, and excellent cooperation existed between the members of the community and the police force. However, insecurity only reduced in areas that had regular and consistent disarmament effort, was hampered by lack or poor road infrastructure, difficult and treacherous terrains, and the lack of trust by the community and the police. The study thus recommends that, the road infrastructure be developed to improve access to remote areas, government presence be increased equally in the entire county, civic education be carried out to enhance collaboration and improve public trust, and incorporate the local leaders in the disarmament exercise and have it implemented uniformly and consistently to curb shifting insecurity to far and remote places and prevent negative attitude from the population who view the exercise as targeted and punitive.