Pokot people

Origins

Pokot identity formed in the Kerio Valley perhaps as early as the late 18th and certainly not later than the mid 19th century.^[10] It emerged from the assimilation of the Sirkwa era Chok by the Pokotozek section of the Maliri.

Assimilation

Early 20th century accounts of the Pokot identify two distinct branches of the community with the caveat that much as two ways of life are detailed, they were one people.^[11]

Beech (1911) identified significant differences between agricultural and pastoral sections of the Pokot in; oaths, punishment for murder and homicide, punishment for assault, punishment for witchcraft, punishment for theft and robbery, marriage & divorce, recourse in case of unpaid debt and land tenure.^[12] He however notes that "it must be therefore borne in mind that, although written of here as two distinct sections, the hill and pastoral Suk are essentially the same".^[13]

Social organisation

Even in the early stages of assimilation, there were no notable differences in matters of social organisation, initiation or governance between the two Pokot groupings. Socially, Pokot men were divided into three groupings; Karachna or boys, Muren or circumcised men and Poi or old men. Boys once circumcised would join an age-set.^[14]

Inter-tribal relations

The Turkana, Samburu and Pokot ethnic groups have organized cattle raids against each other. The two groups have been through numerous periods of war and peace.

Demographics

The number of Pokot speakers in Kenya has been estimated at 783,000^[8] (last Kenyan census carried out in 2009) while the number of Pokot speakers in Uganda is estimated at 130,000.^[15]

Culture