SUMMARY

For most of Kenya´s ethnic groups, cattle play a vital role. They not only serve as the main food supply for many tribes, but are also of considerable spiritual value, are used as bride prizes and serve different functions in religious rituals. Resulting from this importance of cattle, cattle raids between rival tribes have a long tradition. With the increased availability of modern weapons, such cattle raids became more violent and deadly. Those clashes can furthermore be characterized by a circular pattern since in order to assure survival, raided tribes must retaliate against other tribes to replenish lost livestock. Also the conflict between the Samburu and the Turkana is characterized by such vicious circles of violence.

Apart from fighting each other separately, the Samburu in 2006 also fought the Turkana in alliance with the Pokot ethnic group. For further information see the Pokot, Samburu - Turkana conflict.

The non-state conflict between the Samburu and the Turkana is first included in UCDP data in 1996. By the end of that year, violence between the two groups had resulted in more than 25 battle-related deaths.