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.
Cattle rustling or raiding is no longer a cultural practice, but a form of organised crime committed by international criminal networks. It is facilitated by an increasing proliferation of weapons, according to a study by ENACT transnational organised crime researchers at the Institute for Security Studies.
‘Traditionally, small-scale stock theft was a way of balancing community wealth and power, but crime and capitalism have commercialised this practice, making it a significant economic threat,’ the researchers say. The practice has caused many deaths among rural communities and security forces in Kenya and South Sudan.
Cattle raiding in 2017 and 2018 was characterised by high-intensity conflicts that left dozens killed or maimed, and negatively affected human security and development in the region. In Kenya’s West Pokot and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties, 30 people were killed during the first five months of 2019. This followed what the authorities called conflict – but what was in fact cattle rustling carried out as a criminal enterprise.
In Uganda, authorities recovered 400 head of cattle stolen by Turkana rustlers from Kenya responsible for increased cattle rustling at the end of 2019, the death of several people and the theft of thousands of head of cattle.Responses to the cattle raiding problem by East African countries have so far been ineffective
In South Sudan, 42 people were killed and 78 wounded in Bieh State after armed Murle tribesmen attacked cattle keepers, stealing more than 100 head of cattle at the beginning of 2019. In December, gunmen stole 400 cattle and killed 11 herdsmen and wounded seven others in Jonglei State.
Spurred by the proliferation of small weapons, criminals target small-scale pastoralists who are the backbone of the regional beef industry. Their livelihoods are threatened by criminals who supply stolen beef to growing urban meat markets worth about US$500 million in Kenya alone.
Cattle are an agricultural and cultural mainstay for millions of nomadic African pastoralists. The impact of livestock theft on marginalised communities is severe. It deprives people of their livelihoods and increases poverty. It’s often breadwinners who are injured or killed in raids, fuelling communal grievances and revenge attacks.
Cross-border criminal networks use advanced logistics and market information to continue their illicit activities. Cattle rustling as a form of organised crime is embedded in the wider cattle trade business enabled by government corruption, with state officials turning a blind eye or collaborating with criminals.
History of Cattle raiding in Kenya
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
Women have also been cited as a major catalyst in the persistence of cattle raising among pastoral communities in north western Kenya. Young girls incite young men into undertaking cattle raids in order to secure bride-wealth to marry them.
Recent raids
- In April 2003, dozens of people were killed and thousands displaced after an attack by Kenyan cattle raiders in eastern Uganda (BBC).
- 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.
- Kenyan security forces say they have shot dead 18 of the cattle raiders.
- On July 31, 2008 raiders shot around 30 herdsmen at Suguta Valley. 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-year-old herdsboy were killed as raiders attacked the Napoi Enatuny village in Turkana West District.[3]
- In September 2009 at least 31 people died during a raid to Mogurak, Laikipia North District
- On November 10 Ten people died when Samburu cattle raiders attacked the Kisima village in Samburu County.