International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume V, Issue IX, September 2021|ISSN 2454-6186 www.rsisinternational.org Page 526 Influence of resource competition on human-wildlife conflicts among the community of Kithoka area in Meru County, Kenya Kiogora, D. K & Gathoni, F. Department of Hospitality & Tourism Management, Kenya Methodist University, Main Campus - Meru, Kenya Abstract: Human wildlife conflict poses a great challenge to wildlife conservation and sources of income of people globally and is increasing as human migration from rural to urban areas increases, global climate changes, development expands and other human and environmental factors put wildlife and people in greater direct competition for a shrinking resource base. The study was influenced by the fact that human wildlife conflict cases are rampant in the region and no action has been taken despite the knowledge of this. The study was based on stakeholders and social conflict theories. Descriptive survey research design was used where the target population comprised of 1200 households from 4 villages around Kithoka forest and 30 Kenya Wildlife Service officers at the Meru station. Stratified random rampling was used to select a sample size of 10% of the households heads in each village strata, while a census survey was adopted for the KWS officers making a total of 148 respondents. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect data. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentages, frequencies and means while data was presented using tables. Qualitative data generated from the interview guide was organized in themes and patterns, grouped through content analysis and then discussed. This study recommends that; The National government through the Ministries of Lands and Agriculture in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife should establish coherent policies that will protect the environment and suitable use of natural resources. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) should review its policy through enforcement of regulations and legislation on the safe distance that people should build their houses away from Kithoka forest for purposes of minimizing human wildlife conflict. This barricade bodies will help establish a human zone and wild zone and the KWS Meru station should consider reinforcing alarms on the fences to help in detection of any wild animals or people attempting illegal entry into the forest. Key words: Resource Competition, Human-wildlife conflicts, Wildlife Conservation, I. INTRODUCTION uman wildlife conflict has been in existence for as long as human beings have existed and wild animals together with people have shared the same landscapes and resources. Conflict occurs mainly in areas that have high population of wild animals mainly because of competition over resources e.g., food, water, land etc., human encroachment on wildlife corridors (socio-economic and patterns of land use) and the increase in human and livestock population (Machoka, 2017) Wildlife conservation and sources of income of people globally is posed a great challenge by human wildlife conflict and is increasing as human population becomes more, establishment of infrastructure, climate modifications and other human environmental issues expose people and wildlife in more direct struggle for limited resources. Human wildlife conflict occurs worldwide one way or another (Mutanga, 2015) In the kingdom of Bhutan which is a landlocked country in the eastern Himalayas bordered by china to the north and India to the east, south and west a predation activity examination by the tiger, common leopard, and snow leopard and Himalayan black bear was conducted. Data showed that one thousand three hundred and seventy five kills were documented, with leopards killing more livestock (70% of all kills), than tigers (19%), bears (8%) and snow leopards (2%). About 50% of livestock killing were cattle and about 33% were horses (Sangay & Vernes, 2008). People’s perceptions of large carnivores are clearly negative in the High Andes of Argentina showing that pumas and foxes were mostly killed as retaliation for the real or imagined killing of domestic animals, or to prevent anticipated livestock predation (Mauro Lucherini & Maria Jose merino, 2008). Human wildlife conflict are also evident all across Africa. In Botswana the black jackal canis mesomelas was blamed for 77% of all the reported livestock losses (M.Gusset et al., 2009). A questionnaire survey that was conducted in Tanzania of 1396 local people living adjacent to Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Mikumi national park and Selous Game reserve shows that 71% of local people reported problems with wildlife. 86% of the locals reported crop damage, while 10% reported the killing of livestock and poultry (Newmark, Manyanza, Sariko, & Gamassa, 2002) Kenya is endowed with an enormous diversity of ecosystems and wildlife species. It is renowned for its diverse assemblage of large mammals like the elephant (loxodanta Africana), black rhino (diceros bicornis), leopard (panther pardus), buffalo (syncerus cafer) and the lion (panthera leo) and also numerous species of ungulates (Maurine, 2013). Maasai Mara National Reserve which is commonly known for its Africa’s greatest wildlife reserve also is rampant with the conflicts between the communities surrounding the protected areas and the wildlife. The world conservation union (African Wildlife H