THE ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN CONFLICT ESCALATION IN MAU FOREST COMPLEX IN NAROK COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

The Mau Forest Complex is a critical ecosystem as it plays a vital role in providing various ecological benefits, including water regulation, carbon sequestration, and habitat preservation. However, unsustainable practices such as illegal logging, encroachment, and agriculture have resulted in significant degradation. Over the years, a large portion of the Mau Forest Complex has been excised to pave way for human settlement, particularly the victims of violent conflicts such as the Ogiek (Southern Nilotic speakers) community and other internally displaced persons (IDPs). Mau Forest Complex is Kenya’s important water tower. Important rivers that flow into Lake Victoria such as River Nile, the longest one in the world originate there. Despite this the Mau has come under enormous human pressure that has lead to degradation and in turn conflicts escalate over its scarce resources pitting IDPs against local communities, government agencies, and corporate entities, among other stakeholders. Historical documents show how resource-based conflicts contributed to highly destructive wars in Karamoja and Kagera regions of Uganda, Darfur in Sudan, Rwandese genocide and the Niger Delta. The study aim established the role of environmental degradation in conflict escalation in Mau Forest complex in Narok County, Kenya. The study adopted a mixed methods design of qualitative and quantitative in the selection of the research study, they were crucial, grasped the inconsistencies between the methods in the data analysis. The sample of 134 was drawn from the target population of 65,300 of the seven (7) blocks of the Mau Forest Complex. These blocks are Maasai Mau 21, Eastern Mau 14, Western Mau 17, Southern Mau 18, South West Mau 13, Trans Mara Region 25, and Mau Narok 26. For qualitative approach the seven (7) blocks formed the sampling frame with each blocks having one focused group discussion and key informants. The 134 participants were picked through convenient sampling, those first identified were the local administrators and religious leaders. However, the researcher depended heavily on quantitative techniques use of questionnaires, data analysis. The clusters, snowball and purposive were also used to select the participants of the study. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 through the descriptive and thematic analysis. Descriptive statistics generated in the form of frequencies and percentages used to summarize quantitative data and was presented in the tables of frequency distribution. The research study concluded that there were measures placed to manage and restore the Mau Forest Complex, which must balance environmental protection with the needs and rights of local communities, to reduce conflict and ensure sustainable resource use.