Resource conflicts affecting criminality among the youth in Laikipia county, Kenya

Abstract

Communities devoid of crime register profound developmental milestones due to optimal resource allocation, increased productivity and harmonious coexistence. However, Laikipia County in Kenya may not achieve the developmental goals laid down owing to persistent community conflicts and the rising number of youths convicted of various crimes. Competition for resources by constituent communities has been identified as the main driver of the long-drawn conflicts in the county, and as such, this study focused on examining resource conflicts affecting criminality among the youth in Laikipia County in Kenya. The study employed the descriptive survey research design on a population of 1324 convicted youths in Laikipia County. Stratified random sampling was used to select a sample of 302 respondents comprising youths serving custodial and non-custodial sentences as well as corrections and probation officers. Questionnaires and interview guides were used for data collection. The reliability of the research instruments was estimated using the Cronbach Alpha coefficient, while validity was established through the expert opinion of university supervisors. Data analysis was aided by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data, while thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. Data analysis results were presented as frequency distributions and in prose narration. The findings revealed that resource conflicts played a role in the rising cases of criminality among the youth in Laikipia County in Kenya.