Always in short supply, heads of cattle from other tribes' herds are fervently sought by fathers, uncles and brothers who are heavily armed with automatic weapons. Prolonged drought has intensified the conflict between the valley's Pokot and Marakwet tribes. Without adequate water and grazing pasture, cattle are dying off and raids have grown more frequent and bloody as desperate pastorlists try to fortify their herds. Over the years, the Marakwet tribe has learned to farm and their territory in the valley is dotted with the green of crops that have been irrigated by river water. They are not as reliant on their animals and aren't as likely to raid other herds, unless it is in retaliation.
Cattle raiders are heavily armed with bows and poison arrows as well as machine guns.
But the rivers are quickly running dry, and one of the last full waterways borders Pokot territory. The banks of this river have become battlegrounds and crossing the small bridge between the two lands has been called an act of faith. The most fiercely aggressive tribe in the country, the Pokots have earned a frightening reputation when Kenyan children act up, they are told to behave or the Pokots will come and snatch them away. The Pokot people are very traditional and have led a primitive, nomadic lifestyle for centuries. They are herders who depend on their animals for survival.