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.
