Negotiation Skills Essay

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CATTLE RUSTLING IN NORTHERN KENYA AND HOW TO CURB IT AS A MEDIATOR Introduction Conflict and negotiation are a fact of everyday life which sometimes can produce negative and positive outcomes. They often produce anxiety. Using Negotiation skills to resolve conflicts can lessen this anxiety and produce good agreements. For example, cattle rustling in Northern Kenya Cattle-rustling is an old practice among cattle rearing communities in Kenya. Some communities in northern Kenya still practice it even today. Cattle-rustling takes place on a seasonal basis and is mainly associated with rites of passage into adulthood. After circumcision, the newly initiated men take part in cattle raids to demonstrate their ability and courage. Such raids are also organized to raise the dowry paid to a bride’s parents, the raids also serves to restock a community’s livestock especially after a dry spell. The raiders are mainly interested in cattle and sometimes women who are taken as wives. The raided communities would in turn organize counter-raids to recover the stolen livestock, this often result to conflict within the involved communities which in turn escalate to violence. This article outlines the five principles of negotiation that I can use to curb cattle rustling in Northern Kenya. Ways forward in curbing cattle rustling As a negotiator I can use the following cultural dialogue principles to help curb the cattle rustling. Separating people from the problem First and foremost is to separate the persons involved from the problem and treat them like people not the problem. From there put myself into their shoes and this will help me to discuss their perceptions. Make sure that they participate in the process. Use face facing tactics by making my proposals consistent with their values. Understanding their emotions and mine by making them explicit and acknowledge them as
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