Culture and Armed Conflict: Towards an Understanding of the Maasai-kuria Conflicts; 1950s to 2008.

Abstract

The postcolonial period in Kenya witnessed many inter-ethnic conflicts across the country for various reasons. The Maasai and Abakuria too engaged in armed clashes which were mainly done through cattle raids and counter raids across the transamara-Kuria border. This research investigated the interface between culture and conflict between the Maasai and Abakuria since 1950 to 2008.It focused mainly on the clash of identities between the two communities. To understand the construction of communal identities among the Maasai and Abakuria and the tendency to engage in armed conflicts, this research examined their various traditional institutions and the role these institutions played in fueling hostilies btween the two communities. The study argued that the Maasai-Kuria conflicts persisted from pre-colonial to post-colonial period nd beyond because the issue of identity as a major player in the conflict was not adequately addressed to compliment the other causes such as the struggle for scarce resources. This study therefore found that for a complete understanding of the Maasai-Kuria conflicts, and many other ethnic conflicts across Kenya, cultural factors must be examined. The study applied the psycho-cultural conflict theory which helped to demonstrate how differences in communal identities between the two communities led them into protracted hostilies.Data for the study was generated from books, online sources, archival materials, reports and oral interviews.