Cattle raiding in Kenya
Encyclopedia
The northern Kenya
and eastern Uganda
regions are very insecure areas. For years now, there has been a number of cattle raids going on, terrorising the civilian population and killing hundreds of people. In eastern Uganda
, in the Karamoja
region, there are nomadic cattle herders called the Karamojong
. These people are believed to be responsible for a number of the raids into Kenya.
It also appears that the Ugandan government is taking sides in the conflicts. In 2003, the Ugandan army said it is recruiting Karamojong warriors as a militia force to fight the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group in eastern Uganda. Brig Kale Kaihura, a special military assistant to President Yoweri Museveni, told IRIN news: "Karamojong are as much threatened as anyone and they know it's in everyone’s interest that we protect Uganda from these thugs" (IRIN news).
Raids also occur between Kenya and Ethiopia
. The Boranas group has recently been involved in raids involving cattle, according to a BBC article. Over the past year, more and more people from Ethiopia are crossing into Kenya, and violence is a common occurrence in the region. Cattle related conflicts are also happening between Uganda and Sudan
(BBC).
On July 3, 2005 both Uganda and Kenya governments agreed in a meeting to step up efforts to disarm pastoral communities in the two countries to end the violence according to an All Africa story. However, the month of July has seen more attacks than ever before.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and eastern Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
regions are very insecure areas. For years now, there has been a number of cattle raids going on, terrorising the civilian population and killing hundreds of people. In eastern Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, in the Karamoja
Karamoja
Karamoja sub-region, commonly known as Karamoja, is a region in Northern Uganda.-Location:The subregion, is located in northeastern Uganda and comprises the following seven districts:* Abim District* Amudat District* Kaabong District...
region, there are nomadic cattle herders called the Karamojong
Karamojong
The Karamojong or Karimojong, are an ethnic group of agro-pastoral herders living mainly in the north-east of Uganda. Their language is also known as Karamojong or Karimojong, and is part of the Nilo-Saharan language group.-History:...
. These people are believed to be responsible for a number of the raids into Kenya.
History
The conflicts in this region are several years old. For 20 years now the Karamojong have been armed, and cattle raids have been going on. In 2001, a seven-month process was started to disarm the Karamojong of some 20,000 weapons. As of 2003, the Ugandan army claims over 10,000 guns have been collected but the process is slow with most of the Ugandan army troops relocated to the north to fight a rebel incursion there.It also appears that the Ugandan government is taking sides in the conflicts. In 2003, the Ugandan army said it is recruiting Karamojong warriors as a militia force to fight the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group in eastern Uganda. Brig Kale Kaihura, a special military assistant to President Yoweri Museveni, told IRIN news: "Karamojong are as much threatened as anyone and they know it's in everyone’s interest that we protect Uganda from these thugs" (IRIN news).
Raids also occur between Kenya and Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. The Boranas group has recently been involved in raids involving cattle, according to a BBC article. Over the past year, more and more people from Ethiopia are crossing into Kenya, and violence is a common occurrence in the region. Cattle related conflicts are also happening between Uganda and Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
(BBC).
On July 3, 2005 both Uganda and Kenya governments agreed in a meeting to step up efforts to disarm pastoral communities in the two countries to end the violence according to an All Africa story. However, the month of July has seen more attacks than ever before.
Recent raids
- In January 2003, a Ugandan cattle clashes left 30 people dead (BBC).
- In April 2003, dozens of people were killed and thousands displaced after an attack by Kenyan cattle raiders in eastern Uganda (BBC).
- On September 21, 2003, raiders have killed dozens of people in the north-eastern region of KatakwiKatakwiKatakwi is a town in Eastern Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial center of Katakwi District and the district headquarters are located there. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
(BBC). The government later confiscated 1238 heads from Karamojong elders to compensate the lives taken in the raid.
- On June 24, 2005 the World Food ProgrammeWorld Food ProgrammeThe World Food Programme is the food aid branch of the United Nations, and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger worldwide. WFP provides food, on average, to 90 million people per year, 58 million of whom are children...
suspended its operations because Karamojong warriors looted nearly 50 tons of food (IOL).
- On July 12, 2005 61 people died in Kenya from attacks (BBC).
- On July 15, 2005 the BBC reported over 25 deaths over a two day period when raiders from Uganda ambushed and stole cattle (BBC). Over 2,000 animals are believed to have been stolen in the past month. An army commander said the trouble began when Pian warriors raided cattle from the rival Bokora ethnic group.
- On July 21, 2005, some 200 raiders from eastern Uganda crossed into Kenya (Reuters). Police say the raiders killed a 12 year-old boy and stole many animals. Kenyan security forces say they have shot dead 18 of the cattle raiders.
- On July 31, 2008 raiders shot around 30 herdsmen at Suguta ValleySuguta ValleySuguta, also known as the Suguta Mud Flats, is an arid part of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya , directly south of Lake Turkana. The valley is floored by a seasonal stream complex, the Suguta River, that terminates in the seasonal playa lake Lake Alablab...
. The herdsmen were chasing raiders, who had earlier stolen their cattle, but the herdsmen run out of ammunition.
- In August 2009 seven suspected raiders and a 16-years old herdsboy were killed as raiders attacked the Napoi Enatuny village in Turkana West District .
- In September 2009 at least 31 people died during a raid to Mogurak, Laikipia North District
- On November 10 Ten people died when SamburuSamburuThe Samburu are a Nilotic people of north-central Kenya that are related to but distinct from the Maasai. The Samburu are semi-nomadic pastoralists who herd mainly cattle but also keep sheep, goats and camels. The name they use for themselves is Lokop or Loikop, a term which may have a variety of...
cattle raiders attaced the Kisima village in Isiolo DistrictIsiolo DistrictIsiolo District is an administrative district inEastern Province of Kenya. Its population is 100.861 , and its capital is Isiolo town. Isiolo District is to be the first district to be developed as part of the Kenya Vision 2030 program....
.