The nexus of oil, conflict, and climate change vulnerability of pastoral communities in northwest Kenya

Schilling, Janpeter; Locham, R.; Weinzierl, Thomas; Vivekananda, Janani; Scheffran, Jürgen

doi:10.5194/esd-6-703-2015

Cited by 29 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…As with cattle and pastoral raids, oil can be a catalyst for elite manipulation and ‘raids’ as seen in Nigeria and other resource areas in Africa. The potential for the recently discovered oil in Turkana South to exacerbate conflicts among pastoralists in the area is well captured by Schilling et al (2015: 1182). In their fieldwork in Nakukulas, one of the villages in which oil exploration has been carried out, they noted that chances of outbreaks of violence due to disputes over large-scale acquisition of pasturelands by oil companies such as Tullow Oil 33 was ‘significant’ (Schilling 2015: 1182).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

The role of elite rivalry and ethnic politics in livestock raids in northern Kenya

et al. 2017

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This paper argues that livestock raids and pastoralists’ competition over water and pastures in north-western Kenya are manifestations of local ethnic political contests and rivalries. The culture of raiding among the Samburu, Turkana, Pokot, Borana, Gabra and Rendille communities has changed over the last 40 years. Whereas elders were once the gatekeepers of communal institutions, today new actors are at the forefront of new forms of violent raids. Among Samburu and Turkana communities, politicians and shrewd businessmen have emerged to exploit ethnic rivalry that exists between these groups and use it to mobilise raids. These political and business elites play influencing roles in raiding by paying and arming warriors to carry out raids. Competition for political influence is closely intertwined with competition over scarce water resources and grazing pastures among Turkana and Samburu. Given that pastoralists survive on decreasing pasture and water resources, our study shows that political elites arm their communities during the dry season to gain the upper hand in contests over access to limited resources. Livestock raids no longer occur in the traditional context of restocking, but rather as an expression and manifestation of local ethnic politics and political contests between ethnic kingpins. The study uses primary field data from a case study collected through in-depth interviews, oral history and group discussions with various actors.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

The role of elite rivalry and ethnic politics in livestock raids in northern Kenya

et al. 2017

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“…This ‘external collaboration and assistance’ (Oloka-Onyango et al 1993: 12) can reportedly take a variety of forms, such as an extended entrepreneurial chain originating with a specific order for cattle (Schilling et al . 2011), training in military tactics and use of modern weapons (Ocan 1994), the involvement of external ‘armed military or bandit groups’ seeking to ‘procure cattle in vast quantities either to feed warring armies or to sell on the market’ (Hendrickson et al . 1998: 191), logistics and transport support (Akabwai & Ateyo 2007), and the financing of cattle raids for commercial purposes (Mkutu 2003).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From the border to the bedroom: changing conflict dynamics in Karamoja, Uganda

Stites

Howe

2019

J. Mod. Afr. Stud.

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For the latter decades of the last century, the Karamoja region of north-eastern Uganda was infamous as a place of violent cattle raids and road ambushes, populated by fierce warriors. Using primary data, this article examines the shifts from large-scale raiding to opportunistic theft as well as the profound transformation in the security environment over the past 10 years. We argue that the combination of a top-down sustained disarmament campaign and grassroots peace resolutions have created relative stability for the first time in decades. This stability has allowed for the expansion of markets, investments by national and international actors, and the rejuvenation of livelihoods for many residents. However, while large-scale violent cattle raids are largely a thing of the past, violence and insecurity have shifted to the domestic sphere in the form of small-scale but pervasive thefts and rampant domestic violence.

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“…East Africa (EA) is well known for her pastoral activities which constitute a significant source of employment in the region (World Bank, 2014). The increasing drought associated with climate change poses a major threat to pastoral communities in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda (Schilling, et al, (2015). The exodus of pastoral groups and their quest to gain control over water points results in violent conflicts, loss of lives, jobs and property.…”

Section: Drought and Unemployment In East Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate change, adaptation, and global jobs: Lessons and urgent policy options for Africa

Agba

Akpanudoedehe²,

Ojong

et al. 2021

Quant. Econ. Manag. Stud.

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Climate change remains one of the world’s greatest challenge in the 21st century. It causes inevitable changes that alter human activities. Adaptation to climate change creates and at the same time limits opportunities that support human existence. While United States of America, Europe, China, India and other countries are maximizing the opportunities climate change adaptation offers especially in areas of green technology, energy and agriculture, that of Africa who are more vulnerable to climate change are complacent and at most show less commitment. As the negative impacts of climate change increases and livelihoods erode, and as jobs continue to disappear leading to conflicts and upheavals in Africa, governments across the continent need policy options that will enable them to mitigate and adapt to climate change while at the same time address the problem of unemployment and create new patterns of livelihood. This paper, therefore, explores options that support these objectives. It offered policy suggestions in green energy and agriculture where Africa have a comparative advantage over other nations, and which also has the capacity of employing 90 per cent of the continent's workforce. It makes suggestions on how Lake Chad and other water sources affected by climate change in Africa can be revived to support agricultural activities and hydropower industry as well as create green jobs. It advocated for investment in biofuel, wind and solar energies to create green jobs. The paper submits that if green jobs are created and agricultural activities supported conflicts associated with unemployment and migration will be reduced drastically.

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The nexus of oil, conflict, and climate change vulnerability of pastoral communities in northwest Kenya

Cited by 29 publications

References 47 publications

The role of elite rivalry and ethnic politics in livestock raids in northern Kenya

The role of elite rivalry and ethnic politics in livestock raids in northern Kenya

From the border to the bedroom: changing conflict dynamics in Karamoja, Uganda

Climate change, adaptation, and global jobs: Lessons and urgent policy options for Africa

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