International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume IV, Issue X, October 2020|ISSN 2454-6186 www.rsisinternational.org Page 550 Nature of Cross-Border Conflicts between the Communities at the Kenya and Ethiopia Border Faith Shikuku 1 , Prof. Pontian Godfrey Okoth 2 , Dr. Susan Kimokoti 3 1,2,3 Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, P.O Box 190-50100. Kakamega Abstract: Cross-border conflicts have more often than not culminated into full-fledged wars between states globally. Conflict-affected and fragile states are experiencing repeated and interlinked violence that crosses borders. In Africa, cross-border conflicts have been dynamic in nature being orchestrated by a number of factors including inadequate natural resources, territorial disputes, and shared resources among others. The cross-border of Kenya and Ethiopia is no exception. It has been affected by seasonal patterns of drought and famine, seasonal movements of armed pastoralists and livestock across the border. Moreover, Kenya-Ethiopia border has experienced a continuing degradation of the environment leading to food insecurity and increased competition for scarce resources mainly water and pasture. These phenomena have more often than not resulted in cross-border conflicts among communities living along the border of Kenya and Ethiopia. The research objective of the study was to examine the nature of conflicts between the communities at the Kenya and Ethiopia border. This research paper is underpinned by power theory. Key words: Cross-border conflicts, communities, Kenya and Ethiopia border I.INTRODUCTION onflict prevention, management and resolution remain one of the major challenges facing the international community. Despite technological developments, the abundance of mechanisms and initiatives to address these conflicts, and the institutional capacity for this purpose remain weak (Nyambura, 2003).Many Africa countries are experiencing ethnic-cross-border-conflicts, which impose great social and economic costs. The pastoralist cross border conflicts in African context have proved devastating to the socio-economic and development trajectories of entire regions (Bevan, 2007). For instance, the Toposa of Southern Sudan has been in conflict with a number of neighboring groups including the Didinga, Turkana, Dinka, Dassenach and Karamojong sub-clans (Bevan, 2007). These conflicts are not caused by a single factor but by many intermingling factors happening simultaneously such as resource scarcity, widespread poverty, weak government structure in rural areas, and limited participation in economic, political and cultural decision making (Salih, et. al., 2001; Yohannes, et. al., 2005; Bekele, 2008). II.THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK In anarchic environments, each units incentives is to put itself in a position to be able to take care of itself since no one else can be counted on to do so (Waltz, 1979). The study was underpinned by power theory. Waltz (1979) observes that balance of power politics prevails whenever “two or more state coexist” in an anarchic order with no superior agent to come to the aid of states that may be weakening or to deny to any of them the use of whatever instrument they think will serve their purposes (Waltz, 1979). A state must always be concerned with its relative power. The power of others – especially great power- is always a threat, never a cure. Weak states may have no alternatives but to guess right and hope that early alignment with the victor will ensure their survival and (at least some) other vital interests (Donnelly, 2000). The argument is that whenever two dominant powers face each other, each is the only real threat to security of the other, they cannot but be enemies. Each must, whatever its preferences or inclinations, balance its power against the other. John Herz argues that international anarchy assures the centrality of the struggle for power even in the absence of aggressively or similar factors (Herz, 1976).For purposes of this research paper, the study therefore focused on how states wield power to influence regional institutions in perpetuation of conflict, in this case Kenya and Ethiopia. III. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The study was conducted using descriptive survey design. Orodho (2003) defines descriptive survey as a method of collecting information by interviewing, or administering questionnaire to a sample population to get their attitude, opinion and habits on any variety of educational or social issues. The area under study was the border area between Oromia region in Southern Ethiopia and Marsabit County in Northern Kenya. Marsabit County borders the country of Ethiopia to the North with about 500 kilometer stretch. The county comprises four constituencies Saku, North Horr, Laisamis and Moyale. Moyale (Kenya) has 7 wards namely Butiye, Sololo, Heillu, Golbo, Township, Uran and Obbu from which the household heads were drawn. Moyale (Ethiopia) is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Yohannes et al., (2005) observe that the regions on both sides of the border share similar arid and semi-arid environments sharing same dominant ethnic groups, culture and customary institutions. This region is the homeland of Borana, Garii, Burji and Gabra communities in Ethiopia and Kenya. IV. STUDY FINDINGS The main drivers of instability and conflict are resource scarcity in particular water and grazing land as well as C