Climate change exacerbating conflicts in northern Kenya

I moved to the northern part of Kenya last year and for the duration that I have been here I have lost count of the number conflicts that I have heard or witnessed. Early this year, I was caught in the middle of a deadly clash at Leparua, along the border of Isiolo and Laikipia Counties that left three people dead and one person nursing serious injuries. The area is home to the traditionally pastoralist Samburu, Ndorobo, Turkana, Somali and Borana communities. The fight broke out after some morans from Samburu community had raided and stolen sixty heads of cattle from their Ndorobo neighbor.

What caught my attention, however, was the Isiolo Deputy County Commissioner’s statement that conflict between the communities has 'escalated in the recent times'. The statement was echoed by my colleagues, acquaintances and friends. One study I looked at later on stated that, ‘violent conflicts involving pastoralists have become widespread and increasingly severe in the North Rift and North Eastern regions of Kenya.’