General information
Type of Incompatibility: Not applicable
Date of first battle related death: 1991-12-27
Date of conflict reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1992-12-13
Comment on conflict reached 25 battle releated deaths: The non-state conflict between the Kalenjin and the Kikuyu is first included in UCDP data in 1992. In December of that year fighting between the two groups led to more than 25 battle-related deaths.
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1991
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Non-State
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1 |
| Best | 1 |
| Low | 1 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1992
Primary Parties: Kalenjin - Kikuyu
Dimension: Non-State
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 90 |
| Best | 42 |
| Low | 42 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1993
Primary Parties: Kalenjin - Kikuyu
Dimension: Non-State
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 35 |
| Best | 35 |
| Low | 12 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1994
Primary Parties: Kalenjin - Kikuyu
Dimension: Non-State
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 46 |
| Best | 28 |
| Low | 28 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1998
Primary Parties: Kalenjin - Kikuyu
Dimension: Non-State
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 127 |
| Best | 127 |
| Low | 127 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2006
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Non-State
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 5 |
| Best | 5 |
| Low | 5 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2007
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Non-State
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 11 |
| Best | 11 |
| Low | 11 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2008
Primary Parties: Kalenjin - Kikuyu
Dimension: Non-State
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 95 |
| Best | 78 |
| Low | 78 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Conflict Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1991 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1992 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: The violence between Kalenjin and Kikuyu in 1992 is to be seen in the context of the December 1992 presidential and parliamentarian elections, the first multi-party elections in Kenya for decades. During 1992, non-state conflicts related to the elections between several ethnic groups occurred (see the sections on Kalenjin – Luo and Kisii; Kalenjin – Luhya in the database). Standing President Daniel arap Moi, an ethic Kalenjin, was running against several candidates belonging to the Kikuyu ethnic group. Most candidates used ethnicity as a recruitment instrument. In addition, President Moi, opposed to multipartism, warned repeatedly that a multi-party system would endanger the unity of Kenya, while opposition leaders accused Moi of fuelling ethnic violence in order to find an excuse to postpone the elections.
The violence between the Kalenjin and the Kikuyu first erupted in April when a series of attacks and counterattacks left 15 dead and forced hundreds to flee their home. The opposition and the government exchanged mutual accusations of fueling tensions for their own political aims. The situation calmed down after security forces in the area were reinforced. With the exception of a short period in July, the situation remained calm until December. Violence re-erupted in early December in the context of candidates- and voter registration irregularities. While voting day as such was relatively calm, violence erupted again in the aftermath of the elections, after the three main opposition leaders jointly stated that the polls had not been free and fair.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The differences in the fatality estimates is mainly due to diverging information about an incident in Burnt Forest near Eldoret, Rift Valley Province, in mid-December. While some sources reported 16 dead, the National Council of Churches of Kenya, the umbrella organization of Christian churches in Kenya, reported 35 deaths.
Terminated: NO
1993 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In February, violence between the Kalenjin and the Kikuyu re-erupted after a mostly calm January. Both, the opposition and the government accused each other of fuelling the violence, and of hindering the country to return to normal after the contested December 1991 elections. The situation then calmed down and remained quiet until August, when the two groups engaged in a series of cattle raids and started burning houses, traditionally a common occurrence between the two groups.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The differences in the fatality estimates are due to some contested incidents in mid-August. While government officials denied that any incidents had taken place, opposition and international observers report a total of 23 fatalities.
Terminated: NO
1994 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: The conflict between Kalenjin and Kikuyu in 1994 took mainly place in March, with only two events taking place in January and February respectively and no registered violence after March. Violence erupted after a cattle raid - a normal occurence in the region - left several death. As a result, latent animosities between the two tribes turned into active fighting. Such fighting was characterised by attacks and retaliation attacks on farms and villages inhabited by the other group. During such attacks, houses were burned and livestock either destroyed or stolen.
Terminated: NO
1998 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: The violence between the Kalenjin and the Kikuyu took place solely in January. Violence started with cattle raids between the two tribes, which is a common occurrence. The situation then exploded after a group of Pokots – a Kalenjin sub-tribe – killed two Kikuyu in a revenge attack. Many observers assume political motives and ethnic tensions, resulting from the December 1997 Presidential elections, behind the cattle raids. In the elections, the Kikuyu overwhelmingly voted for opposition leader Kibaki, while the Kalenjin supported President Moi, an ethnic Kalenjin. It is assumed by many that the Kalenjin used the momentum of the election victory for revenge. It is further assumed by many that the Kalenjin saw an opportunity to force the Kikuyu to leave the Rift Valley and in doing so to solve the disputes over land ownership.
Terminated: NO
2006 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2007 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2008 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: One of these types of violence was Kalenjin and Kikuyu fighting each other. Kalenjin predominantly supported Odinga whilst Kibaki was supported by Kikuyu. Many Kalenjin in the rift valley region had hoped that Odinga taking over power would mean that the access to land for this group would increase. When the results from the election started to circle different Kalenjin groups started to attack Kikuyu who tried to defend themselves. These militias were paid and organised by different local politicians as well as different local businessman. As a response to this Kikuyu business men in for instance Nairobi and also different Kikuyu politicians started to organise and pay Kikuyu militias. The violence continued throughout at high intensity throughout January and at a lower level in February before it was ended when the power-sharing agreement was signed.
Terminated: NO
