Thesis:

Assessment of eldas and Wajir north boundary conflict consequences on services delivery by the county government of Wajir, Kenya

The prevalent and occurrence of competition, aggressive mentality, antagonism and hostility among different communities are of indicators of conflict. The demarcation of many parts of the world in the post 2nd World War especially in Africa, disregarded the social, political and economic set-up of these areas. As a result, many inter and intrastate border conflicts particularly boundary disputes have been witnessed and some persists to date both in first and third world countries. The study posits that contemporary boundary disputes in the focal area (Wajir North and Elda’s subcounties) are largely associated with territorial struggles motivated by the quest for the control of geostrategic and economic resources on the affected borderlines and frontiers. The current study, therefore aimed at establishing the effect of boundary conflict between Eldas and Wajir north subcounty on access to public services in Wajir North (Sub-County). Specifically, the study sought to establish the influence of boundary border resource factors, border entry and exist points control and borderline position on public service access. A descriptive research design was adopted. The study targeted a total population of 830 comprising village elders, chiefs, elected leaders, subcounty administrators and civilians from the sub-counties. Random, stratified random sampling, snowballing and purposive sampling were used to select a sample size of 83. Collected through semi-structured questionnaires data was analyzed using of SPSS software v.21’s descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was analyzed by use of content analysis and a prose form presentation. The findings were presented in tables, diagrams and charts which evolve conclusion and recommendations to address the persistent border disputes between North and South Wajir sub-counties. The study established that unclear ownership, sedentary and nomadic livelihood user rights voluntary and mutually beneficial exchanges and resource straddling/overlapping a border contributed significantly to border resource conflicts in Eldas and Wajir North sub-counties. Also, it was established that granting crossing/passage, levy collection, patrols enforcement and designing of passage rules/conditions accounted for entry and exist border points conflicts in Eldas and Wajir North sub-counties. It was also found out that borderline position conflicts were caused by unclear borderlines, no fixed boundaries, borders that keeps shifting based on relations, war, nomadic livelihood complicated ownership, incompatible ethnic groups fusion, claim on rivals’ land as ancestral land, as well as proximity, kinship, common loyalty to a king defined society not boundary in Eldas and Wajir North sub-counties. The study recommends streamlining unclear ownership, sedentary and nomadic livelihood user rights voluntary and mutually beneficial exchanges and resource straddling/overlapping a border to solve border resource conflicts in Eldas and Wajir North sub-counties. Also, it is recommended engaging warring factions to address granting crossing/passage, levy collection, patrols enforcement and designing of passage rules/conditions to mitigate entry and exist border point’s conflicts. Further, the study recommends comprehensive streamlining unclear borderlines, no fixed boundaries, relations, war, nomadic livelihood, incompatible ethnic group’s fusion, and claim on rivals’ land as ancestral land, proximity, kinship, or common loyalty to a king in Eldas and Wajir North sub-counties.