Historical Developmentof The Land Question In Bukusu-Sabaot Inter-Ethnic Conflict In Mount Elgon Area Since1850

ABSTRACT

Ethnic conflicts have been witnessed world over; where, different communities fight each

other over territorial boundaries, limited natural resources and political supremacy. This

worrying trend disturbs livelihoods, access to social amenities and affects local and

international economies. As a limited resource, with cultural and economic value, land has

generated inter-ethnic conflicts across the world. In Kenya, communities like the Maasai

and Kipsigis have recently fought over land and cattle. The Pokomo and Oromo have had a

history of land conflict in the Tana River Delta. In the recent past, the Gabbra and

Dassenetch communities of Marsabit County have fought over grazing land. It is against

this backdrop that this study examined the historical development of the land question in

Bukusu-Sabaot inter-ethnic conflict in Mt. Elgon area since 1850. Specific objectives of

the study were: to assess the relations between the Bukusu-Sabaot during the pre-colonial

period; to examine the Bukusu-Sabaot relations in the colonial period and; to analyse the

land question in the post-independence Bukusu-Sabaot conflict. The study was grounded

on instrumentalists and constructivists theories of ethnic identity. Constructivist argues that

ethnic identity is the latest invention in Africa created by colonialists and missionary

agents. Instrumentalist on the other hand views ethnicity as a tool by the elites as a means

to achieve certain objectives. The study in addition found that socio-political and economic

features of both the Bukusu and Sabaot like burial rites, initiation, settled life, production

forces age set systems and council of elders reinforced the land conflict in Mt. Elgon area.

The study further found that ethnicity, gender dimensions, politics, elites and infiltration of

firearms in Mt. Elgon have fuelled the Bukusu-Sabaot inter-ethnic land conflict in Mt.

Elgon area. The study recommended that epicentres of conflict should be mapped out and

intervention measures concentrated in such areas. The study recommended that cultural

relativity should be emphasised, and perpetrators of the conflict should be at the centre of

conflict mitigation. The study also recommended that gender related pressure regarding

land ownership should be dropped because it augmented the conflicts and the government

should take disarmament exercise seriously in Mt. Elgon area. The study further

recommended that there is need to ease pressure on land by establishing alternative sources

of livelihood. The study also concluded that traditional methods of conflict resolution

should be fused with religious conflict intervention methods and other modern mitigation

methods to avert the conflict.