Kalenjin peoples, comprising Tugen, Nandi, Kipsigis, Pokot, Marakwet, Sebei, and other subgroups, have inhabited the Rift Valley highlands for centuries. They are primarily pastoralists and agriculturalists, with cattle herding representing a central part of Kalenjin culture and economy. The Kalenjin claim deep historical and cultural attachment to the Rift Valley landscape, which they view as their ancestral territory.
During the colonial period, the British established the Rift Valley as part of the White Highlands, displacing or restricting Kalenjin pastoral movements and appropriating the most valuable land for European farmers. Kalenjin communities were pushed to marginal areas while settlers developed the best farmland. This dispossession created long-standing grievances that persisted into post-independence Kenya.
After independence, Kalenjin political dominance under the Moi presidency created opportunities for land acquisition and economic advancement. Wealthy Kalenjin businesspeople and politicians obtained farms, business licenses, and government contracts. The Kalenjin concept of the Rift Valley as uniquely theirs intensified after 2002, when Moi left office and political power became more contested. Fears of being "colonized" by Kikuyu and other settlers drove the violent reactions in 2007-2008.
See Also
Nakuru Timeline Lake Nakuru Lake Naivasha Kalenjin Nakuru City Hell's Gate