Conflict and Social Change: The East Pokot Pastoralists Adjustment to Conflict

Conflict among herders in East Africa is a common occurrence. It affects millions of people in many ways by extinguishing their livelihoods and forcing many others to change. This paper is focused on the East Pokot pastoralists’ adjustment to conflict. The paper first presents the East Pokot as a people, their history, brief interaction with the central government, and their geographical region. In the second part, the paper discusses the patterns of adjustment to conflict. The paper argues that in the face of sustained conflict occasioned by loss of livestock, which is their mainstay, many East Pokot families have turned to non-pastoralist livelihoods. In particular recourse to beekeeping, crop based farming, wage employment and business are some of the cultural adaptations now preferred, yet they were traditionally despised as bases of livelihood. Additionally, enhanced inflexibility and going to previously no-go-zones are some of the risky decisions they now have to take as a response to conflict