Causes of the Masai civil wars

• The Purko who were the pastoral Masai always despised the Kwavi who were farmers leading to the wars.
• The Purko claimed that the Kwavi were finishing their land and that very soon they would not have enough grazing lands for their animals.
• The Kwavi farmers also claimed that animals of the Purko were destroying their farms during grazing leading to the wars.
• The Kwavi always expected help from their neighbours the Laikipia and this gave them morale to fight against the Purko.
• The succession disputes between the leaders of the Masai after the death of Laibon Mbatien also led to the outbreak of the wars.
• The Kwavi Masai had always defeated the Purko who had for long wanted revenge for their losses.
• The Purko were always a proud society who took a lot of pride in fighting and when they got the opportunity, they had to engage the Kwavi in warfare.
• The two groups had participated in long distance trade and had acquired guns which encouraged them to fight against each other.
• The Purko always believed that the Kwavi had deliberately spread animal diseases which claiming many their animals’ lives.
• The youths among the Kwavi were always blamed for stealing the animals that belonged to the Purko which led to the wars.
• The Purko believed that they were the rightful owners of all the Masai land and didn’t want it to be taken over by the Kwavi.

The desire to control the trading activities in the area also led to conflicts between the two groups

Causes of the Masai civil wars

• The Purko who were the pastoral Masai always despised the Kwavi who were farmers leading to the wars.
• The Purko claimed that the Kwavi were finishing their land and that very soon they would not have enough grazing lands for their animals.
• The Kwavi farmers also claimed that animals of the Purko were destroying their farms during grazing leading to the wars.
• The Kwavi always expected help from their neighbours the Laikipia and this gave them morale to fight against the Purko.
• The succession disputes between the leaders of the Masai after the death of Laibon Mbatien also led to the outbreak of the wars.
• The Kwavi Masai had always defeated the Purko who had for long wanted revenge for their losses.
• The Purko were always a proud society who took a lot of pride in fighting and when they got the opportunity, they had to engage the Kwavi in warfare.
• The two groups had participated in long distance trade and had acquired guns which encouraged them to fight against each other.
• The Purko always believed that the Kwavi had deliberately spread animal diseases which claiming many their animals’ lives.
• The youths among the Kwavi were always blamed for stealing the animals that belonged to the Purko which led to the wars.
• The Purko believed that they were the rightful owners of all the Masai land and didn’t want it to be taken over by the Kwavi.

The desire to control the trading activities in the area also led to conflicts between the two groups