SUMMARY

The Nandi is an ethnic group inhabiting the highland areas of the Nandi Hills of the Rift Valley province in western Kenya. The Nandi is a sub-tribe of the Kalenjin, a grouping of several distinct sub-groups speaking the same Kalenjin language (for more information on this group, se the sections on Kalenjin in the database). The Nandi makes up for around 950 000 people of the around three million Kalenjin, making the Nandi the second largest of all Kalenjin sub-tribes.

Traditionally, the Nandi were nomadic pastoralists, but this way of life was abolished in the early 20th century and today the group´s main livelihood is sedentary agriculture. They mainly grow corn and sweet potatoes, but also tea for the export market. Despite being agriculturalist, cattle continue to an important role in Nandi culture, functioning as a source of food and as bride-price and having a central role in rituals. This importance ascribed to cattle leads to frequent cattle raids against other ethnic groups. Traditionally, such cattle raids were non-lethal, but the increased availability of fire arms since the 1990s has led to higher levels of violence and fatalities. This higher level of violence has resulted in increased animosity and suspicion between the tribes in Kenya.

In elections, Nandi usually supports candidates from their sur-tribe Kalenjin such as Daniel arap Moi in the 1992 and 1997 presidential elections. Despite the fact that there are no ethnic political parties, ethnicity plays a key role in Kenya´s politics. Candidates usually relay on the support of their own ethnic group and use animosities between the different tribes to gather support from other ethnic groups.

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