Conflict Dynamics Between the Pastoral Tugen and Pokot Communities of Baringo County, Kenya

Abstract

This article investigated the dynamics of the conflicts between the Tugen and Pokot communities of Baringo North and Tiatey sub counties respectively. The conflicts between the two neighboring communities can be traced to 1907 and have since been frequent and disastrous. The article is based on empirical and secondary data that were collected partly for Phd work at Moi University in 2011. The study found that the Tugen and Pokot conflicts were embedded on cultural perceptions of regarding each other as traditional enemies since time immemorial. This manifested itself in resource conflicts related to pasture, water, land, territory and boundary. Since 2,000, the conflicts have increasingly become violent because of proliferation and use of small arms and light weapons and the commercialization of livestock raids. For instance, in 2012 alone, 7.000 people were displaced while 82 were killed. The article recommends that, for meaningful efforts to resolve conflicts, stakeholders should not only focus on immediate causes of conflict but more importantly the underlying perceptions between communities; whether they regarded each other as allies or enemies.