SUMMARY

The Maasai is a Nilotic ethnic group living in the southern part of the Rift Valley Province in Kenya and in northern Tanzania. It is one of the smaller of Kenya´s over 70 different ethnic groups, numbering between 500 000 and 1 million, with a majority living in Kenya. It is difficult to determine the exact number of Maasai given the group´s semi-nomadic lifestyle, taking them across state borders and their hesitations to cooperate with the state census.

The Maasai is closely related to the Samburu, with whom they share their origin. Both ethnic groups are assumed to have migrated from Ethiopia and the Sudan to their current location as part of the plains Nilotic movement. Despite being closely related, the Maasai and the Samburu often launch cattle raids against each other. The Maasai also frequently engage in cattle raids against other neighbouring tribes such as the Turkana. State security forces tend to stay clear of those disputes and leave the settlement to traditional conflict resolution mechanisms such as mediation by tribal elders. The frequency of such cattle raids also results from the spiritual belief of the Maasai. They believe that the rain god Ngai gave all cattle to the Maasai. Consequently, the Massai consider all cattle as their property. In general, cattle are central to Maasai culture and serve as a measurement of social and economic status, and are the main food supply. In addition to cattle, the Maasai also keep goats.

The Maasai has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.