The pastoralists’ banditary economy

By Isiah Lucheli

It is a symbol of power and every man, woman and child in this region seeks to own one.

It may be illegal, but the gun is becoming a powerful indispensable tool that no one among the pastoralist communities would wish to live without.
Among the pastoralist communities, owning a gun is a prerequisite to owning livestock.

An AK 47 is highly prized for both offence and defence in a region where vicious attacks during cattle raids have become a way of life. Residents purchase firearms to protect their livestock or use them in cattle raids. Ironically, the proliferation of the guns has resulted in insecurity leading many of these areas to be shunned by the business community.

Unscrupulous businessmen from neighbouring countries have taken advantage of the insecurity to sell arms cheaply to the pastoralists, further aggravating an already terrible security situation.
Several disarmament exercises conducted by Kenya and Ugandan security forces at different times have failed to rid the area of illicit arms.

Provincial administrators in Pokot and Turkana districts which are highly affected by insecurity say the mop up exercises flopped because most of the pastoralists flee to their relatives in the neighbouring countries with the arms during these exercises.

Role of elders

Others only surrender the unserviceable weapons and hide the good ones.
Population explosion among the pastoralist communities has exerted pressure on water sources and pasture leading to violent conflicts and rampant cattle theft.
Regular peace meetings have not stopped cattle rustling, death and destruction of property.

Ironically, the cattle raids are sanctioned by elders and none of them can take place before they authorise. Elders are regarded in high esteem and their word is the law.
"We have had instances of warriors being killed for defying the orders of the elders. However, the situation is changing due to the economical aspect of cattle rustling," says Peter Lodomok a resident of Masol.
He explains that elders are viewed with awe by the warriors and are perceived to be in direct communication with the gods. Defying them can be tragic for the warriors.

When the warriors are going for the cattle raids, they do not carry food. They just carry water and honey. They can only slaughter one of the goats they have stolen.
Pastoralists interviewed in Turkana and Pokot districts say that most of the arms are sourced from Uganda.

"It is unimaginable for one to own livestock unless he has a gun. Insecurity is rife and a gun is the only protection from external aggression," says John Lokomoi a Pokot warrior as he shows off his AK47 rifle.
Lokomoi explains that guns from Uganda are sold at Sh20,000 while bullets go for between Sh50 to Sh150 each depending on the gun model.
Lokomoi says that five years ago the price of guns was Sh70,000 but with the number of illegal guns in the country increasing, the price has dropped to Sh20,000.

"Suppliers cross the border and stay in the jungle for over two weeks and return with arms. One can pay cash or an equivalent number of livestock. With two cows you can get an AK 47 rifle," says Lokomoi.
Some pastoralists have changed their business and are now specialising in the guns trade.
The gun of choice for many is an AK 47 as it is easy to acquire and use.

ready market

Some communities acquire weapons from Uganda while others source them from Sudan and Ethiopia.

Though the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) launched a disarmament exercise two years ago, the exercise led to the proliferation of arms in Kenya.

The communities have relatives across the border who come in handy in such situations.

Over 5,000 guns were recovered in Karamoja, Bukwa, Nakiloro and Kapchorwa.
To avoid losing their guns to government soldiers during the disarmament exercise, pastoralists from Uganda sold their weapons to the ready market in Kenya.
Residents claim that owning weapons is the only way to protect their livestock.

However, the same arms come in handy during highway robberies, which are increasing especially in the North Rift.

Initially cattle raids were part of the communities’ culture. Women and children would not be harmed during the raids. However, today they are also becoming victims. Initially, only bows and arrows were used but today warriors have heavy weapons to harm the ‘enemy’.

Grenades have come in handy. Three weeks ago, Pokot herdsmen who had taken their livestock in search of pasture along Turkwell River claimed that Turkana warriors attacked them with grenades, which led to the death of a herdsman while livestock were injured.
Market centres in Pokot and Turkana have been abandoned and schools closed as the security situation continues to deteriorate.

Boys handling guns

Among the schools that have been closed due to insecurity in the North Rift are Lomelo, Kamuge, Nabeiton and Amolem Primary schools. The trading centres affected include Kapedo, Lomelo, Nadome, Lochakula, Loyapat and Amolem.

Villages are affected by insecurity are Orwa, Sarmach and Lewus in Pokot. In these areas over 1,000 livestock were stolen and dozens of families displaced.

The Lewus Administration Police camp was also attacked during a raid three months ago.

The banks of River Turkwel, which divides the disputed boundary between Turkana South and Pokot Central, have also been heavily affected.
Ekidor Ekwama, a herdsman from Kaputir in Turkana South explains that boys aged five are taught how to herd livestock. When they turn 10, they are trained how to use guns.

"The young men are taught by more experienced warriors," explains Ekwam.
He adds that young boys are also trained on the importance of being courageous and how to withstand any challenges in a battle.

"They are taught that even when outnumbered during an attack one must not flee. They have to fight to the last man," he explains.
The story is the same among the Pokot warriors commonly know as ngorokos meaning the fierce ones.
They are instructed to instil fear to their victims.
According to Achale Achapa, a herdsman from Pokot East, a commander accompanies every group of warriors. "The bandits have scouts who spy on potential targets. They can walk for over 200 kilometres just to steal animals," he explains.
He adds that after the attack the stolen livestock are kept in a kraal for a day or two and then distributed to those who participated in the raid. "The livestock are not shared equally. The commander gets the biggest share followed by the fiercest warriors," adds Achapa.
In the event that the livestock stolen are less than the number of the warriors, two or more people can share an animal. "When one camel is given to three or more warriors, they create a routine where it is serves all and once it gives birth, the calf is given to one of them," explains Achapa.

Government’s failure

Bishop Stephen Kewasis of Anglican Church of Kenya, Kitale accuses the Government of failing to solve the problems facing pastoralists, which had led to rampant insecurity. "Pastoralists have been marginalised, which has led to underdevelopment and insecurity. This has forced people to take up arms," he says.
The Bishop explains that illicit arms are a major threat to the national security. "Guns from our neighbouring war torn countries are finding their way into the country daily. Recently, a woman was arrested in Pokot while trying to smuggle two guns into the country. How many such cases go unreported?" wondered Kewasis.
Kewasis explains that the government should sensitise the pastoralists on the importance of disarming and initiate alternative sources of income.