Ethnicity as a tool of political violence: a case study of the North Rift, 1992-2009

Abstract

The focus of this study was to examine how ethnicity was used as a tool of political violence in the North Rift of Kenya. Although North Rift comprises of nine districts namely Uasin Gishu, Turkana, Trans Nzoia, Nandi, Keiyo, Marakwet, East Pokot, North Pokot and West Pokot, three districts, namely Uasin Gishu District (Ainabkoi Administrative Division), Trans Nzoia District (Cherangany and Saboti Administrative divisions), and Nandi District (Kipkaren and Tinderet Administrative divisions) were chosen. These areas were a hotbed of politically instigated violence during the general election period between 1992 and 2009. The study posits that, ethnicity was used as a tool of political violence in the targeted districts. It argues that ethnicity stems back to the period of migration and settlement. After settlement communities interacted either through peaceful means or conflicting relations. Ethnicity was intensified by the British colonial administration which displaced some 'perceived' indigenous communities in order to create room for the White Settlers. The settlers required labor which the displaced Africans were not willing to offer. The Colonial administration therefore was determined to force the Africans to work on these farms by putting into place laws that would ensure this was done. Africans from different communities were therefore forced to seek employment on the created 'White Highlands'. These immigrants seeking employment were to remain in the region after the colonial rule leading to competition over resources such as land.