Conflict and communication: The case of Laikipia county, Kenya

This article discusses the concepts of rumours and language barriers as important and underrepresented aspects of natural resource conflicts. The article does this by drawing on empirical data relating to pastoral conflict and cattle raiding in a semi-arid region of Kenya. Further, the article moves on from the concept of misinformation to discuss the impacts that the lack of communication and proliferation of rumours has on the ability to build trust between the stakeholders and demystify deeply held stereotypes, using the concept of in-groups and out-groups.