EFFECTS OF CATTLE RUSTLING ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
A CASE STUDY OF MASOL LOCATION, WEST POKOT COUNTY
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
This proposal gives the background of the study, statement of the problem, purpose of the study,
objectives of study, research questions, significance of the study, limitation and scope of the
study and operational definition of terms.
Background of the study
According to (Mohamud Adan, 2005), Cattle’s rustling is an ancient practice of stealing for
either economic gain or social gain. In the American Old West, rustling was considered a
serious offense, and it did frequently result in lynching by vigilantes. Mexican rustlers were a
major issue during the American Civil War, with the Mexican government being accused of
supporting the habit, as it was for the American rustlers stealing Mexican cattle from across the
border. Failure to brand new calves facilitated theft. Conflict over alleged rustling was a major
issue in the Johnson County War in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The transition from open range
to fenced grazing gradually reduced the practice of rustling in North America. In the 20th
century, the so called 'suburban rustling' became more common, with rustlers stealing cattle and
taking them directly to auction. This act often took place at night, hence posing difficulties on the
law enforcers because noticing lost cattle is hard since there are large ranches. In the 19th century
(Adan, 2005) outlines that Cattle raiding became a major issue in Argentina, where cattle stolen
during malones were taken through Rastrillada de los chilenos across the Andes to Chile, where
they were exchanged for alcoholic beverages and weapons. Several indigenous groups, and
outlaws such as the Boroanos and Ranqueles tribes and the Pincheira brothers, roamed around
the southern frontier of Argentina in search of cattle. To prevent the cattle raiding, the Argentine
government built a system of trenches called Zanja de Alsina in the 1870s. Most cattle raids
ended after the military campaigns of the Conquest of the Desert, and the following partition of
Patagonia by Chile and Argentina established by the 1881 Border Treaty, (Mohamud Adan,
2005)
In African, pastoral communities have become synonymous with high levels of armed violence
and severe under-development. Governments and international agencies alike often frame
pastoralism as a thorn in the side of state-led development and violence reduction policies. There
are a number of reasons for this: the fact that many pastoral communities function outside of
state administrative and security frameworks; the view that the pastoral lifestyle is fundamentally
incompatible with the state; malfunctioning conflict mediation systems within pastoral
communities; and the apparent contradiction of the pastoral mode of production to agrarian
economies. In Kenya, most of cattle rustling cases are found among the pastoralist communities.
The Pokot’s are one of the pastoralist communities who are in constant conflict with their
neighbors. Masol is one of the locations in west Pokot district that her residents experience and
participate in cattle rustling. “Most conflicts are caused by competition over access to, and
control of, scarce natural resources, including water and pasture” (Mohamud Adan and Ruto
Pkalya, 2005)
Statement of the Problem
There has emerged a new system of predatory exploitation of economic resources in the form of
banditry and cattle rustling (raids) in Kenya. This problem is manifesting itself in various forms
and it is becoming endemic in north-western Kenya. Traditionally, cattle’s rustling among the
pastoral communities was considered as a cultural practice and was sanctioned and controlled by
the elders. However, currently the phenomenon of cattle rustling is causing great concern. In the
past there has been a tendency by scholars to trivialize the issue of cattle rustling as a mere
cultural practice. Yet, over a period of time there have emerged new trends, tendencies and
dynamics, leading to commercialization and internationalization of the practice. The study aims
at investigating the implication of cattle rustling on economic development a case of Masol
location in West Pokot County.
Definition of Terms
Cattle rustling- cattle-rustling has been defined to mean, ‘the stealing or planning, organizing,
attempting, aiding or supporting the stealing of livestock by any person from any country or
community where the theft is accompanied by dangerous weapons and/ or violence
Development- Development refers to the process as a result of which along with increase in real
per capita income, there is a reduction in inequality, poverty, illiteracy and diseases.
Economic Development-This is the institutional changes made to promote economic
betterment. It is the social organizational changes made to promote growth in an economy. It is
also the process of improving the quality of human life through increasing per capita income,
reducing poverty, and enhancing individual economic opportunities. In other words, the process
of improving the quality of human life through increasing per capita income, reducing poverty,
and enhancing individual economic opportunities is called economic development, Umar,
(2004).
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