Cattle raiding in Kenya

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The northern Kenya region is a very insecure area. For years now, there has been a number of cattle raids going on, terrorising the civilian population and killing hundreds of people.

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History

Tensions in this region are long-lasting. For a long time now the Turkana have been armed, and cattle raids have been going on.

Raids 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.

On July 3, 2005 Kenya government agreed in a meeting to step up efforts to disarm pastoral communities in its northern counties.

Among pastoral communities in north western Kenya, and across the border in South Sudan, bride-wealth has been cited as a major reason why cattle raids continue. In these areas, cattle raids are seen as the only way many young men can acquire the means to marry. [1] [2]

Recent raids

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References

  1. Kimaiyo, Dvaid, In the Spirit of Service, Nairobi: Kipchumba Foundation, 2017.
  2. Aleu, Philip Thon & Mach, Parach (26 June 2016). "Risking one's life to be able to marry". D+C, development and cooperation. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  3. Anon 2008, 'Raiders shoot dead 30 herders', Daily Nation, 2 August. Retrieved on 2 August 2008.
  4. Daily Nation, August 31, 2009: Eight killed in Turkana raid
  5. Daily Nation, September 15, 2009: 31 killed in Laikipia cattle raid
  6. The Standard, November 16, 2009: 10 killed, six injured as raiders attack village Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Cattle rustlers kill at least 11 people during ambush in Kenya". BBC News. 25 September 2022.