The post-election violence following Kenya's disputed 2007 presidential election (December 2007 to February 2008) was primarily concentrated in central Kenya, particularly among Kikuyu people communities, but also significantly affected the Rift Valley region and peripheral communities, including Gusii communities living in the Rift Valley.
Context of the Violence
President Mwai Kibaki's disputed reelection in December 2007, challenged by opposition leader Raila Odinga, triggered violence rooted in long-standing land disputes, ethnic competition, and political animosity. The violence was particularly brutal in the Rift Valley, where Kikuyu settlers faced attacks from Kalenjin and other pastoral communities who viewed them as colonial era land-grabbers.
Gusii Communities in the Rift Valley
Beginning in the 1990s, some Gusii farmers had migrated to the Rift Valley (Nakuru District, parts of Bomet and Kericho), attracted by available land and agricultural opportunities. These Gusii settlers had purchased land (rather than being colonial-era settlers), but their outsider status made them vulnerable during ethnic conflicts.
By 2007, the Gusii population in the Rift Valley numbered in the tens of thousands, concentrated particularly in areas around Nakuru town and agricultural zones. Many of these communities had lived peacefully alongside Kikuyu, Kalenjin, and other groups, but underlying tensions over land ownership and ethnic belonging persisted.
The Violence Against Gusii
During the 2007-2008 violence, Gusii communities in the Rift Valley faced attacks from Kalenjin and other groups who used the election crisis as an opportunity to drive out non-indigenous groups perceived as having unfair land advantages:
Timing and intensity - the violence against Gusii followed the pattern of Rift Valley violence more broadly, with January and February 2008 being peak months of intense attacks.
Forms of violence - attacks on Gusii included:
- Mob violence and vigilante attacks targeting Gusii individuals and families
- Burning of homes and destruction of property
- Rape and sexual violence against Gusii women
- Livestock theft
- Killings of Gusii individuals and families
Displacement - thousands of Gusii fled the Rift Valley, either returning to Kisii or seeking refuge in Nairobi or neighboring counties. The displacement was rapid, often occurring over days or weeks as security deteriorated.
Specific Incidents
While comprehensive documentation of violence against Gusii is limited in published sources, several incidents are noteworthy:
Nakuru area - Gusii communities around Nakuru town faced particularly intense violence, with reports of organized attacks and extensive property destruction. Some Gusii neighborhoods were systematically targeted.
Kericho/Bomet areas - Gusii in these tea-growing zones faced attacks, though these areas experienced somewhat less intense violence than Nakuru.
Survival strategies - some Gusii communities survived by seeking refuge with sympathetic Kikuyu neighbors who protected them, highlighting that not all violence followed strict ethnic lines. Others fled to government-held safe zones or refugee camps.
Displacement and Refugee Camps
Massive displacement resulted in establishment of refugee camps in Nakuru, Nairobi, and other centers. Gusii families, along with thousands of other displaced persons, lived in camps for months or years. Conditions in camps were poor, with inadequate food, water, and health services.
The Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner and later post-election peace initiatives focused on returning displaced persons to their homes. However, return was slow and incomplete. Many Gusii never returned to the Rift Valley, choosing instead to remain in displacement or resettled elsewhere.
Long-term Consequences
The 2007-2008 violence had lasting impacts on Gusii-Rift Valley relationships:
- Demographic shift - the Gusii population in the Rift Valley declined significantly, with some areas losing Gusii settlements entirely
- Property loss - Gusii lost farms, homes, and livestock, representing substantial economic losses that were never fully compensated
- Trauma and psychological impact - survivors experienced ongoing psychological trauma from violence, displacement, and loss
- Rebuilding process - some Gusii gradually returned and rebuilt, but many remained displaced, creating a large Gusii diaspora in Nairobi and other urban centers
- Political mobilization - the violence affected Gusii political behavior, with some communities becoming more defensive and politically mobilized around ethnic and regional interests
Transitional Justice and Reconciliation
The post-conflict period saw attempts at transitional justice and reconciliation:
Truth and Reconciliation Commission - the post-election violence led to creation of the Commission of Inquiry into Post-Election Violence (Waki Commission) which documented violence and recommended prosecutions. The commission's work was limited by political constraints and lack of full cooperation from government.
International Criminal Court - some key perpetrators of violence (from multiple ethnic groups, though primarily Kikuyu and Kalenjin) were investigated and prosecuted by the ICC. However, prosecutions were limited and did not comprehensively address violence against Gusii or other smaller ethnic groups.
Local reconciliation efforts - in some areas, communities attempted grassroots reconciliation processes, though these were often limited by ongoing suspicion and economic hardship.
Limited compensation - some Gusii victims received compensation through government or donor-funded programs, but compensation was limited relative to actual losses and did not reach all affected persons.
Gusii Political Positioning
The violence affected Gusii political positioning. Many Gusii became more skeptical of national politics and focused on regional and ethnic interests. Some supported opposition political figures who had opposed post-election violence, while others became more defensive about Gusii interests in national politics.
The violence also strengthened Gusii as an ethnic constituency with distinct political interests, particularly regarding security, land rights, and compensation for violence.
Healing and Memory
Commemorations of the violence and peace-building initiatives have continued in post-conflict years. Some communities have established memorials to violence victims, and civil society organizations have worked on trauma healing and reconciliation.
However, complete healing has been elusive. Many Gusii who were displaced remain emotionally attached to lost homes and land in the Rift Valley, viewing return as impossible or undesirable given ongoing insecurity and changed community compositions.
See Also
- Kisii Diaspora - large displacement and out-migration patterns resulting from the violence
- Rift Valley region - context for violence and regional dynamics
- Kalenjin people - neighboring community involved in violence
- Kenya post-election violence (2007-2008) - broader context and national narrative
- Displaced persons and refugee camps in Kenya - humanitarian crisis from violence
- Ethnic conflict in Kenya - broader conflict dynamics
Sources
-
Waki Commission. "Commission of Inquiry into Post-Election Violence: Final Report." Nairobi: Government of Kenya, 2008.
-
Kahl, Colin H. "States, Scarcity, and Civil Strife in the Developing World." Princeton University Press, 2006.
-
Human Rights Watch. "Ballots to Bullets: Violence Against Civilians in the 2007-2008 Kenya Post-Election Crisis." New York, 2008.