BBC World News reported that there were tribal clashes in the Trans Mara Kisii district in the weeks leading up to the 1997 general election that left up to 50 people dead, which resulted in the area being declared a security zone by Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi (BBC 19 Dec. 1997; ibid. 23 Dec. 1997). The tribes involved, the Maasai and the Kisii, have long fought over cattle, however the violence had escalated in the preceding weeks, and it was speculated that "traditional hostilities had been whipped up for political ends" with the elections so close (ibid.; ibid. 18 Dec. 1997). Clashes involving the Kisii, the Luo and the Maasai tribes along the borders of Gucha, Trans Mara, Migori and Kisii in late 1997 had left villages charred and thousands of people displaced (Xinhua 19 December 1997).

The Nation reported that three Kisii men were killed and six others seriously injured by armed Maasai in Trans Mara in 1997 (23 Apr. 1999). A witness said that this violence led to more clashes in which seven other Kisii were killed and 18 houses burned along the Gucha-Trans Mara border (ibid.). The incident began when a team of Kisii crossed into Trans Mara to track a herd of cattle allegedly stolen from one of their tribe members (ibid.).

According to an article published in The Nation in February 2000 there were "bloody skirmishes" between the Maasai and Kipsigis in the preceding months (13 Feb. 2000). Four civic leaders from the Trans Mara District claimed that recent fighting between the Kipsigis and Maasai communities was politically motivated rather than as a result of cattle rustling, as earlier suggested (ibid. 10 Jan. 2000).

A 1999 Minorities at Risk Project document contained the following observation on the situation in the Rift Valley as a result of the violence that had occurred during the 1990s:

The violence left more than 1,500 people dead and at least 300,000 displaced, some of whom remained displaced into 1999. The victims were mostly non-Kalenjins, particularly the Kikuyu, Luo, Kisii and Luhya. Yet, the government blamed the violence on tensions caused by "land-hungry" tribes and the country's multi-party political system. The Moi regime's response to the violence was grossly inappropriate. Little was done to protect or aid the victims while the government obstructed organizations and the press which had sought to monitor the violence or help the victims. Although some Kalenjin attackers have been convicted, there have been a disproportionate number of convictions of non-Kalenjins who had obtained weapons to defend themselves after being attacked.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

BBC World Service. 23 December 1997. "Kenyan Campaign Marred By Violence." http://news6.thdo.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_41000/41799.stm [Accessed 11 July 2001]

_____. 19 December 1997. "More Violence Reported in South-West Kenya." http://news6.thdo.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_41000/41119.stm [Accessed 11 July 2001]

_____. 18 December 1997. "Security Measures for Kenya Elections." http://news6.thdo.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_40000/40781.stm [Accessed 11 July 2001]

Minorities at Risk Project. October 1999. Shin-wha Lee and Anne Pitsch. "Kikuyu, Kisii, Luhya and Luo in Kenya." http://www.bsos.umd.edu/cidcm/mar/kenkik.htm [Accessed 13 July 2001]

The Nation [Nairobi]. 13 February 2000. Gitau Warigi. "New Twists and Turns in Politics of Kipsigis." http://allafrica.com/stories/200002130010.html [Accessed 9 July 2001]

_____. 10 January 2000. "Leaders: Politics Behind Clashes." http://allafrica.com/stories/200001100040.html [Accessed 10 July 2001]

_____. 23 April 1999. John Oywa and George Kiaye. "Maasais Killed Three Kisiis." http://allafrica.com/stories/199904230102.html [Accessed 10 July 2001]

The Xinhua News Agency. 19 December 1997. "Moi In Attempts to Remove Ethnic Clashes." (NEXIS)

IRB Databases

Africa Confidential 1997-2001

Africa Research Bulletin 1997-2001

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1999

IRIN

Keesing's Record of World Events 1997, 1999-2000

Political Handbook of the World 1997-1999

NEXIS

WNC

Internet sites including:

Africa Online

Amnesty International

BBC World Service

Daily Nation

Derechos Human Rights

East African

East African Standard

Human Rights Watch

Index on Africa

Kenya Human Rights Commission

Kenyaweb