Corruption in the Land Question and Protracted Conflict in Bungoma County, Kenya 1992-2019

Abstract

Corruption is argued to be persistent and enduring matter of global concern. This article investigated corruption in the land question and protracted conflict in Bungoma County, Kenya 1992-2019. Corruption is defined in the form of bribery, land grabbing and privatization of public land. This study explored the dynamics of corruption and its influences on land distribution. It also examines how corruption is used in galvanizing intra-ethnic differentiation leading to protracted conflict on historical land injustice. Moreover, the study seeks to demonstrate how corruption has watered down peacebuilding initiatives in the aftermath of land-based conflict in Mount Elgon, Kenya. The study was anchored on a combination of greed versus grievance theoretical framework together with the theory of ethnic mobilization. The greed and grievance theory defines the problem of land grabbing as self-enrichment while ethnic mobilization theory explained the process by which political elites galvanize intra-ethnic differentiation leading to conflict between Soy and Mosop clans. The study used a case study design to describe the characteristics and dynamics of corruption and its relation to land allocation and mobilization of members of the community into armed violence. The target population included residents of Mount Elgon constituency, politicians, members of the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), County government officials and the civil society. Primary data was obtained from a non-partisan and gender sensitive samples of one hundred and thirty-seven respondents and twenty-four key informants. The study found out that endemic corruption weaved with politics was a major hindrance to fair and transparent land allocation in the region. Moreover, women especially the widows and low income earners were the most disadvantaged in the process of land allocation. The study recommends an independent audit of the land dispensation to allow issuance to the deserving individuals.