UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI FACULTY OF ARTS DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY TOPIC THE SOCIO-POLITICAL EFFECTS OF MARAKWET- POKOT CONFLICT IM TOT DIVISION. BY KIPTOO LAXMANA PETER REG. NO. C/50/9249/01 A PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTI AL FULFILLMENT OK THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN RURAL SOCIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. OCTOBER 2010 Declaration This is my original work and has not been presented in any other institution or forum for any other award or favour prior to this declaration Signature:. T^B.: Date: 1.... .\ (Kiptoo Laxmana Peter. (.750/9249/01) This project hub been submitted for examination with my approval as the University Supervisor: Signature: .hft. f.^.. Dale: h/it/tn. (Prof. Preston Chitcro) Declaration This is my original work and has not fe«n presented in any other institution or forum for any other award or favour prior to this declaration Signature:. Date: (Kiptoo Laxmana Peter. C/50/9249/0I) This project has been submitted for examination with my approval as the University Supervisor Signature: Date: J>/.J///P. (Prof. Preston Chitcre) Acknowledgement I am grateAil to my supervisor IVof. Preston < ''literc for whose effort saw me this project. it Dedication I dctlieulo this project to my family {wile an.' ..! ildrcn) lor tlieir moral support while I was working on iliis project. ill litis study sought to investigate the etYect 01 Marakwet-Pokot conflict on the socio- political organization or the Marakwet in lot Division (along the Kerio Valley) The Marakwet Pokot conflict has visited untold sufYerlngS to the proplc of Kerio Valley for a long lime, ihcfehy collapsing traditional socio political institution* of peace-making like knkwo and administration of oath taking ceremonies (miimn or ntliss). I he objectives of the study included determining the nature of Marakwet-Pokot Conflict in rot Division, identifying tin* existing socio political itructurcs of the Marakwet living in Tot Division, exploring the effect ol out migration on llw si>ci»»-politteal organization of Marakwet living in Tot Division, and finding out the emerging coping mcchanisms adopted hy the Marakwet as a way of preserving their socio-political organization in the lace of the violent conflicts in the region. Che study targeted 10(1 respondents. There were 80 randomly selected general informants and 20 purposively selected key Informants comprising of provincial administration officials, heads of police divisions, leaders of CUOs, NGOs nnd church based organizations were targeted as key informants. Questionnaires/ interview schedules, key informant guides ami I'GD questions were used to collect the data. I he quantitative data was then analyzed using SPSS and described using descriptive statistics, whereas the qualitative data was summarized and Interrelationships among variables were noted. The study found out that Marakwet Pokot conflict has disrupted M.u.ikwct socio-|>olltlcal organization In many respects. I here is more involvement of external forces nnd women in resolving the conflicts than before. The coum il of elder* have been touted having good experience on how to resolve conflicts, enjoying supremacy and the capacity, to enforce forceful decisions, or having the necessary skill and qualifications Iwcause they uro the custodian* of curses. However, their declining capacity m resolving Marakwet- I'"! ot conflict, thereby paving way for external forces, is a reflection of the breakdown of Mamkwct socio-political organization as a refill of the rattle rustling conflicts. Map of Miimkwet show in« the stmly area • >M|I» k'APYECO K'lllH XWCIIk'KOP L UIIM »»<••» !•••«>., ... (ityvtu *•••<•!, ... (•••lilt tt.K.M M.AHtati.&I cum i tmr ititin CIRO DISTINCT Source: Republic of Kcnyn, Marukwct Oistru i Development Plan, 2002-N v rAHI.K01-CONTENT Declaration 1 Acknowledgement " I )ed ication. - — — - 111 Attract IV Map of Marakwct District Showing Study Ansa v Abbreviations and Acronyms vm Chapter I: (General Introduction I. I Background to the Study 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem 1.3 Research Questions * 1.4 Study Objectives h 1.4.1 Overall Objective t} 1.42 Specific Objectives ^ 1.5 Justification of the Research ® 1.6 Scope and Limitation Chapter 2: Literature Review 2.1 Introduction 7 2.2 Marakwct Socio-political Organisation ' 2.1 Marginalization and Deprivation K 2.4 Cattle Rustling and Violent Conflicts Impact of Out-migration on Marakwct JWio-polii tea I Organization 10 2.o lhcoiciic.il Framework '0 2.7 Conceptual Framework VI Chapter 3: Research Methodology 3.1 Introduction 32 Site Selection und Description 1; 3.3 Units of Analysis and Observation 'K 3.4 Sample Size and Sampling Design 18 3.5 Sources, Tools and Methods of Data < Y.llcction -10 3.6 Da hi Analysis and Reporting ''' Chapter 4: Findings and Analyses 4.1 Introduction •I 2 Socio-demographic Characteristics of the Respondents 20 4.3 I he Nature ofMnrokwct-Pokot Conflict 24 4.4 Marakwet Socio-political Structures 4.5 The Impact of Out-migration on Manikwet Socio political Structures 37 4.6 The Hmerging Socio-political Coping Mechanisms 39 4.7 Discussion of the Findings '10 Chapter 5; Conclusion and Recommendations 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Summary 5.3 Conclusions 5.4 Recommendations 5.4.1 Recommendations from the Study 5.4.2 Recommendations for further Study 43 References. 44 Appendices Appendix I: Questionnaire for general Respondents 48 Appendix II: Guide for Key Informants ^ Appendix III: FGD Questions y/ vii Abbreviations aml Acronyms ASA I Art« I r.iv! Semi Arid Lands (ioK (iovernoirnt of Kenya KIIRC Kenya Human Riglus Commission KVDA Kerio Valley Development Authority NCCK National Council of Churches of Kenya N(j< > Non Governmental Organization SARDIil' Semi Arid and Rural Development Progunnme SNV Netherlands Development Organiv.sition Chapter J: Introduction 1.1 Background to the Study Marukwet Pokot violent conflicts that arc synonymous with cattle rustling activities have been at the ccntrc stage of Murakwct ami Pokot history in the 20"' ccntury and in the years leading up to early 21" ccntury These have had inuny consequences, especially on the socio-political organization of the two communities. These IIHVC in turn led to stagnation and standstill of devclopnunt in all the areas occupied hy the two communities, in addition to marginalization l»y previous Kenyan governments rhe socio-political orgnm/alion of the Mai ik wet spans a long period of tune catching up with indigenous technological innovation* i»s exemplified hy Marakwet water furrows that date as lai iMtck .is more than 400 years ago (Soper, 1983). The society has hud strict traditional political organization that was democratically governed hy council of elders (kokwo), who had absolute power on decision making. This rule was more or less governed by stable traditional beliefs and practices that arc still more or less observed today Rut. interestingly, the Marakwet socio-political re-organization lias been shaped by many factors including the entry ot colonial rule and pressures of modernity. The first white man to enter lower Marakwet country was Hyde Maker in 1900. He established a post at Kolloa Hast Raringo hi" his penetration attempt was rejected by the locals as exemplified l>y the massacre ofaU'iut -12 Nubians and Sergeant Major sent by Baker in June 1900 at I ndo (part of the study nre.i) The colonial government executed various punitive actions of various magnitude to «carc the locals but not much came out Of them, rheicfore, this killing and arrogant nature of the locals to the colonial rule was further exemplified by robbing of Ali bin Saleh and Ins caravan in 1004 and the raiding of the Pokots in l<H)3 as reported by W J M. Collycr of Baringo (GoK, 1924). Other incidents in the early colonial rule that demonstrate the nature of Marakwet socio- political organization was (he refusal by the Marakwet to pay hul tax in 1910 to A Bruce, DC Buringo, and the murder of a Cheplulel Pokot in 1911 with impunity l»ui the entry of (tic colonials brought with ii other activities that have since engaged the Marakwet. I"hcrc in the African Inland Mission that was later established at Kapsownr and has extended downwards to other areas of the district. The missionaries brought with it education that engaged some Marnkwel youth and even adults in the colonial period. Fly 1959, there were very many families who luid either enrolled for school ur lor church missions leading to their happy marriages (Kihor. 20(I7>. According to the Kenya Land Commission Report (I9TI), the Marakwet socio-political life and history has not been clear hut what shaped the lives of the Marnkwel people then is the issue of Uieir land being taken from them by the colonials. Ihe issue of lx>undarics with tl»e Pokot has been contentious in live evidence given (CoK, 1911:1961). The Marnkwel wanted certain portion of the Marakwcl reserve given to the Suk (Pokot) by the people of C'herangani ami Sambirir locations to be returned back. In the case of Marakwet-I'okol conllict, the central pillars ol engagement have been the scarce resources in the region and the ability to show .nprcmacy by acquisition of the same fhc boundaries issue lias been ihe subject ol conllict. especially m regard to grazing liclds and watering points. The Marakwcl used to be the supreme power before the acquisition of modern guns by Ihe Pokot after the entry of the colonials that also affected the socio- political organization ot the Marakwcl. Ihe colonials imposed River Kerio as the boundary (GoK. 1912). Alter independence events changed; the Manikwel began going to school half willingly, half by forec. They were administered together with the Kciyo and the district was called Klgcyo Marakwet I lie district headquarters was lien.