Contribution of human insecurity to under development in Garissa County, Kenya

Abstract

The study focuses on the contribution of human insecurity to under development in Garissa County, Kenya. Garissa County is underdeveloped due to increased human insecurity in the region. Over the years, Garissa has been alienated, isolated and marginalized which inhibits any development efforts in the region. For this reason, the study was guided by three objectives; to establish drivers of human insecurity and under development, assess the measures in place for addressing human insecurity and underdevelopment, and determine the challenges faced in the implementation of human security measures and development strategies Garissa County, Kenya. This study was anchored on the tenets of the regional complex theory and the human security approach. It adopted a descriptive research design, and the study population of 400 participants comprised of security agents, County and national government, public benefits organizations, religious leaders, community leaders, and members of the public. The sample was calculated using Yamane’s formula to establish 400 respondents which were statistically significant. A simple random sampling method was used to obtain the popul0ation strata from the six constituencies and thereafter purposive sampling was used to obtain the sample from each stratum. The study uses interviews and questionnaires to collect data. The reliability of the study tools was tested and a Cronbach Alpha value of 0.86 was obtained which was deemed appropriate. Data collected was cleaned and analyzed as per objectives using SPSS for descriptive statistics and presented in figures and tables. Qualitative data were analysed using discourse analysis and presented in themes. The study observed ethical considerations as well as consent from study participants. The findings from this study attest that human insecurity co-relates with other factors that inhibit development in Garissa County. Amongst the listed multi-dimensional complexities, 21.6% of the respondents argue that the rise in criminal activities in Garissa attribute to school dropouts that foresee youth participation in crimes. The study also assessed the existent strategies to support human security in Garissa, where 29% of the respondents recommended sensitization of residents and another 20.5% deemed educating residents to help roll the programme. Additionally, the assessment recognizes challenges in the sustenance of the development programs which need revamping. This study highlighted the threats to human security that impede development in Garissa County. The study concluded that drivers of human insecurity impede Garissa’s development process since they brew conflicts, unrest, instability thus depriving humans of the capacity to wilfully succeed. The study also establishes that the county has functional projects to manage human security and prevent underdevelopment. The development projects have been fairly effective in managing human insecurity in Garissa County thus have significantly contributed to positive human development. This study highlighted the threats to human security that impede development in Garissa County. Based on specific objectives that guided this study, the study recommends future studies on marginalization and funding from the national government. Further comprehensive studies on the effect of inequality and access to resources as a limiting factor to developing marginalized regions. In addition, the study recommends future studies on how specific driven policies redress marginalization and channel opportunities that boost development in Garissa County. Finally, the study recommends future studies on the effects of current development initiatives in Garissa whilst examining their relevance and practicability in the region after possible implementation of this research.