Nature of Cross-Border Conflicts between the Communities at the Kenya and Ethiopia Border

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue X, October 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Nature of Cross-Border Conflicts between the Communities at the Kenya and Ethiopia Border

Faith Shikuku¹, Prof. Pontian Godfrey Okoth², Dr. Susan Kimokoti^3
1,2,3 Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, P.O Box 190-50100. Kakamega

Abstract
Cross-border conflicts have more often than not culminated into full-fledged wars between states globally. Conflict-affected and fragile states are experiencing repeated and interlinked violence that crosses borders. In Africa,cross-border conflicts have been dynamic in nature being orchestrated by a number of factors including inadequate natural resources, territorial disputes, and shared resources among others. The cross-border of Kenya and Ethiopia is no exception.It has been affected by seasonal patterns of drought and famine, seasonal movements of armed pastoralists and livestock acrossthe border. Moreover, Kenya-Ethiopia border has experienced a continuing degradation of the environment leading to food insecurity and increased competition for scarce resources mainly water and pasture. These phenomena have more often than not resulted in cross-border conflicts among communities living along the border of Kenya and Ethiopia. The researchobjective of the study was to examine the nature of conflicts between the communities at the Kenya and Ethiopia border.This research paper is underpinned by power theory.
Key words: Cross-border conflicts, communities, Kenya and Ethiopia border

I. Introduction
Conflict prevention, management and resolution remain one of the major challenges facing the international community. Despite technological developments, the abundance of mechanisms and initiatives to address these conflicts, and the institutional capacity for this purpose remain weak (Nyambura, 2003).Many Africa countries are experiencing ethnic-cross-border-conflicts, which impose great social and economic costs. The pastoralist cross border conflicts in African context have proved devastating to the socio-economic and development trajectories of entire regions (Bevan, 2007). For instance, the Toposa of Southern Sudan has been in conflict with a number of neighboring groups including the Didinga, Turkana, Dinka, Dassenach and Karamojong sub-clans (Bevan, 2007). These conflicts are not caused by a single factor but by many intermingling factors happening simultaneously such as resource scarcity, widespread poverty, weak government structure in rural areas, and limited participation in economic,

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