Browsing by Author "Were, Edmond"

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    Publication
    An Examination of the Nature of Sand Harvesting Conflicts and their Influence on Poverty Alleviation Initiatives in Makueni County, Kenya
    (IISTE, 2015) Muthomi, Simon; Okoth, Pontian; Were, Edmond; Vundi, Silvia
    Though natural resources play an important role in the economies of many countries, conflicts associated with their access continue to contribute to poverty in many African countries. While studies confirm conflict-poverty nexus for high value natural resources, scanty information is available on the low value resources. This study, therefore, examined one such low value resource – sand. The objective was to examine the nature of sand harvesting conflicts and their influence on poverty alleviation initiatives in Makueni County. The study employed descriptive and historical designs. The study was guided by the Resource Curse and Poverty Theories. The study sample comprised of 420 sand harvesters and several key informants. Data collection was done using questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions and observation. Presentation of data was done using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study findings established that sand harvesting in Makueni County has been linked to violent conflicts which left many people either maimed, killed or without their property. These had increased poverty levels in the County. The study therefore recommends for establishment of appropriate institutions to mitigate on the conflicts in order to ensure that sand harvesting provides contributes to poverty alleviation in Makueni County.
  • Publication
    Publication
    Conflict of Interest in Exploitation and Utilisation of Transboundary Natural Resources on Lake Victoria
    (Digital Commons, 2016) Were, Edmond
    The management of Lake Victoria as a “regional common” is expected to adhere to the global principles of transboundary natural resource management. However, national interest and power asymmetry amongst riparian states buoyed by external demand have overwhelmed global and regional norms leading to incessant exploitation of the common resources. This paper uses idealist and realist perspectives of power relations to inform the analysis of conflicting interests in transboundary natural resource exploitation. It partly relies on 2012-2013 primary data from purposively selected Beach Management Units in Kenya and Uganda and secondary data from regional fisheries institutions. Notwithstanding the normative value of global conservation principles, demand-driven globalization buttressed by national vested interests and the National Measures clause of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization have led to unsustainable exploitation of the shared resources on the lake. Lake Victoria thus epitomizes a clash of global and local interests in the use of shared natural resources.
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    Publication
    Household Food Security Support Initiatives on the Social Well-being of Single Orphans
    (Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Studies (JHSSS), 2019-09-30) Okoyo, Josephine Aluoch; Were, Edmond; Egesah, Omar
    The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of household food security support initiatives on the social well-being of single orphans in Rangwe Sub- County. The study employed a sequential explanatory mixed research design using qualitative and quantitative data. The target population was single orphan households and members of community-based organizations dealing with orphans. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire from single orphan parents, focus group discussions with community-based organization members, and an observation guide tool. A snow ball sampling method was used to collect data from 308 households using the semi-structured questionnaire. Questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, mode, standard deviations) and results are summarized using percentages, graphs, pie charts, and frequency distribution tables. Qualitative data from focus group discussions were transcribed and thematically analyzed. Qualitative data from observations were thematically analyzed. The study found out that household food security initiatives were not adequate in terms of their availability, sufficiency and utilization and affected the social-wellbeing of the single orphans in a number of ways; missing school, falling ill more often, not having a sense of belonging, not playing with others and getting worried. The study’s findings indicate that additional food support initiatives targeting single orphans are inadequate. Government policymakers and non-government organizations should prioritize strategies to support households in food generating activities such as farming alongside education of farmers to improve yields, ensure that households have information about different food support initiatives and how to access them, and leverage additional donor funds to support the community-based organization activities that have existing infrastructure and networks to target single orphan households for food support.
  • Publication
    Publication
    The Role of Indigenous Conflict Resolution Mechanism Actors on Land Use Management in Pokot Central Sub-County
    (International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 2018-04-04) John, Lomuk; Were, Edmond; Kandagor, Daniel
    International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences Vol. 8 , No. 4, April 2018, E-ISSN: 2222 -6990 © 2018 HRMARS 179 The Role of Indigenous Conflict Resolution Mechanism Actors on Land Use Management in Pokot Central Sub-County Lomuk Musto John Kapenguria, Kisii University, Kisii Email: lomukjohn87@gmail.com Prof. Edmond Were, Dr. Daniel Rotich Kandagor Kisii University, Kisii Email: dr.were@kisiiuniversity.ac.ke, drotichh@gmail.com Abstract This study sought to assess role of indigenous conflict resolution mechanism actors on land use management in Pokot Central Sub-County. The study employed qualitative and quantitative research designs. The target population was 781. The sample size was calculated using Roasoft sample size calculator, which gave 537 respondents. Simple random sampling was used to select households’ heads while purposive sampling was used to select national government administration, council of elders and lands officers and snowball sampling was used to select disputants. Interviews and questionnaire were the main instruments of data collection. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while interviews were summarized based on themes. The study established that indigenous dispute resolution actors play a significant role in land use management. In dealing with cases arising from land use the council of elders play vital roles which include presiding over a case; in this case the elders select one elder amongst them to chair and the chair takes control of every undertaking in the course of the case, arbitration, mediation, decision making, peace-making, permit traditional oath and link the living with gods. This study recommends that; the community needs to incorporate women as council of elders, the government needs to come up with a structure framework specifying the roles played by different actors, make detailed legislation and policies to guide their operations and sensitise the community to appreciate and value this mechanism and realise its importance in discharging its mandate to the society
  • Publication
    Publication
    The Role of Indigenous Conflict Resolution Mechanism Actors on Land Use Management in Pokot Central Sub-County
    (International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 2018-04-20) John, Lomuk Musto; Were, Edmond; Kandagor, Daniel Rotich
    This study sought to assess role of indigenous conflict resolution mechanism actors on land use management in Pokot Central Sub-County. The study employed qualitative and quantitative research designs. The target population was 781. The sample size was calculated using Roasoft sample size calculator, which gave 537 respondents. Simple random sampling was used to select households’ heads while purposive sampling was used to select national government administration, council of elders and lands officers and snowball sampling was used to select disputants. Interviews and questionnaire were the main instruments of data collection. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while interviews were summarized based on themes. The study established that indigenous dispute resolution actors play a significant role in land use management. In dealing with cases arising from land use the council of elders play vital roles which include presiding over a case; in this case the elders select one elder amongst them to chair and the chair takes control of every undertaking in the course of the case, arbitration, mediation, decision making, peace-making, permit traditional oath and link the living with gods. This study recommends that; the community needs to incorporate women as council of elders, the government needs to come up with a structure framework specifying the roles played by different actors, make detailed legislation and policies to guide their operations and sensitise the community to appreciate and value this mechanism and realise its importance in discharging its mandate to the society.