EVICTEES SETTLEMENTS ON HOST COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ITS SECURTIY IMPLICATIONS TO MEMBERS OF HOST COMMUNITY
Abstract
Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of Mau evictees’ settlement on the security of the host community in Narok County, Kenya.
Statement of the Problem: Community security ensures the safety, stability, and well-being of a population, but evictee settlements often encroach on host community resources, undermining this security.
Methodology: The study used a cross-sectional survey and phenomenological design, targeting 32,750 adults hosting evictees, with 459 respondents selected through multi-stage sampling. Data were collected via questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, multinomial logistic regression, and thematic analysis with triangulation.
Findings: The results showed that evictee settlements negatively affect the security of host communities. Agricultural and pasture acreage land reduced by about 60%, and other natural resources were also strained. Multinomial regression confirmed a significant effect (B = -1.663, p = 0.003). Respondents further highlighted that civic participation, social integration, and conflict resolution mechanisms are key strategies for safeguarding host community security.
Conclusion: The study concludes that evictee settlements lead to the encroachment of host community resources, creating strain that undermines community security.
Recommendation: The study recommends that government provide alternative settlements prior to eviction and establish policies to strengthen host community protection, participation, and conflict resolution practices.
Keywords: Natural resources, Resource strain, community security, Evictees settlements, environmental degradation, infrastructure security
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