Kenya: Information on ethnic fighting between the Digo tribe and the Nandi and Luo tribe, on President Moi's security forces arresting, detaining, and killing members of the Digo tribe, and on state protection available to members of the Digo tribe
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | KEN28902.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Kenya: Information on ethnic fighting between the Digo tribe and the Nandi and Luo tribe, on President Moi's security forces arresting, detaining, and killing members of the Digo tribe, and on state protection available to members of the Digo tribe, 1 March 1998, KEN28902.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aac148.html [accessed 3 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on the fighting between the Digo tribe, and the Nandi and Luo tribes could not be found among the sources currently available to the Research Directorate. According to a political science professor at the University of Iowa, who specialises in Kenyan politics, the Digo are among the tribes that live in the coastal region of Mombasa (Mar. 1998). The Nandi live in the western part of Kenya particularly in Nandi district , around the towns of Eldoret and Kapsabet, while the Luos also live in the western part of Kenya and are concentrated in the Nyanza province (ibid.). The professor further explained that the Nandi are a Kalenjin sub-group and that though President Moi draws support from the Kalenjins, the Nandi are increasing becoming disgruntled with the current regime because they feel they have not particularly benefited from Moi's government. Also, they fear becoming targets of harassment when Moi's presidency ends so they are slowly disassociating themselves from his régime (ibid.).
Nonetheless, ethnic fighting has been reported between members of the Kikuyu tribe and the Kalenjin in the Rift Valley province (AFP 4 Feb.1998, 26 Jan. 1998; Deutsche Presse-Agentur 29 Jan. 1998). The attackers are reportedly Kalenjin warriors taking revenge on Kikuyus for voting "overwhelmingly" for the Democratic Party (DP), in the December 1997 election (ibid.). The ethnic fighting has reportedly claimed more than 100 lives (AFP 4 Feb.1998, 26 Jan. 1998; Deutsche Presse-Agentur 29 Jan. 1998).
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.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 04 February 1998. "Opposition Strike Call in Kenya Goes Unheeded." (NEXIS)
_____. 26 January 1998. "Renewed Ethnic Violence Erupts in Kenya's Rift Valley." (NEXIS)
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 29 January 1998. "Ninety People Killed in Two Weeks of Kenyan Tribal Violence." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential [London]. Weekly
Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [London]. Monthly.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997.1998.
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1996-1997.
New African [London]. Monthly.
Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).
One source consulted did not provide information on the requested subject.
