ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of livestock rustling on headteachers’ instructional leadership in public primary schools in Laikipia North Sub-County. This study was guided by the following objectives: to determine how livestock rustling affects headteachers’ supervision of instruction in public primary schools in Laikipia North Sub-County; to determine how livestock rustling affects headteachers’ provision of instructional resources in public primary schools in Laikipia North SubCounty; to establish the effect of livestock rustling on headteachers’ protection of instructional time in public primary schools in Laikipia North Sub-County and to establish the effects of livestock rustling on headteachers’ monitoring of learners’ progress in public primary schools in Laikipia North Sub-County. This study was anchored on Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of human needs theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The target population of this study comprised of 24 headteachers and 231 teachers in public primary schools in Laikipia North Sub-County. The researcher purposively sampled 18 primary schools for data collection. Therefore, 18 headteachers were purposively sampled from 24 public primary schools to participate in the study. Simple random sampling was used to select 108 teachers for data collection. Questionnaires and document analysis were used to collect data from the respondents. Prior to the study, a pilot study was carried out in two public primary schools which were not included in the actual study. Piloting ensured that research instruments were reliable for the main study. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, mode, median and percentages. Quantitative data were presented in descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution tables, pie charts, and tables. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically to provide more information to support quantitative data. The research found out that livestock rustling affected the supervision of instruction due to high absenteeism and regular displacement of families. Livestock rustling affects the provision of instructional resources and results to sponsors withdrawing their financial support to schools. Due to increased absenteeism and displacement, headteachers are not able to protect instructional time. Finally, as a result of livestock rustling, headteachers are not able to monitor learner’s progress in academics. Additionally, headteachers and teachers stated that livestock rustling affected academic achievement. The research recommends the government to provide security in schools in Laikipia North Sub-County in order to shun livestock rustling. Teachers in the region should be trained on guidance and counseling in order to counsel pupils traumatized by livestock rustling.