PSYCHOSOCIAL EFFECTS OF CATTLE RUSTLING ON ADOLESCENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN BARAGOI, KENYA

This study was set to find out the psychosocial effects of cattle rustling culture among adolescent students in public secondary schools in Baragoi District, Samburu County, Kenya. For many years, Baragoi has experienced a series of serious conflicts based on cattle rustling. The worst incident was the Baragoi massacre that led to mass deaths and injuries of soldiers. The study employed quantitative and qualitative research paradigms focusing on the cross-sectional survey and phenomenological methods respectively. Probability sampling methods used included stratified and simple random sampling. A non- probability sampling method; criterion sampling was also employed. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using questionnaires and Focus Group Discussions for students and interviews for teacher counsellors. Questionnaires had both closed and open-ended items. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and were presented using frequencies, means and percentages while qualitative data were analysed and categorized into themes and presented in form of narratives and excerpts. The main findings showed that all the respondents attested to having experienced cattle rustling. This was a clear indication of how rampant this activity was in Baragoi. The study found established that cattle rustling affected adolescent learners psychosocially. Fear and trauma were the most common psychological effect of cattle rustling. To a lesser extent however, hatred and feeling of revenge were also experienced. Above 70% of the respondents reported deaths, displacements and injuries in the family. This study concluded that cattle rustling had brought much psychosocial unrest to adolescents in Baragoi. The study recommends provision of psychological support to the adolescents affected by cattle rustling through training counsellors and strengthening the counselling department in schools and other social avenues