Transformation In Chinkororo Movement Among The Abagusii Of Kisii County, Kenya,

The emergence of informal security movements globally and in Kenya has received much scholarly attention. Many of such groups surface in response to social, political, and economic inequalities and dissatisfactions. From the outset, it is important to note that almost every ethnic community in Kenya has security movement perceived to be the security wing of the population. Notably, the government a security threat has declared many of such movements. Following the enactment of Prevention of Organized Crime Act in 2010, thirty-three ethnic movements were banned the same year. However, majority of the groups still exist as amorphous entities to date, and Chinkororo is one of such security related movement operating in Kisii County. This study focuses on the transformation in the Chinkororo movement in Kisii County in the period 1961-2010. It examines the rise of Chinkororo in response to various factors, including the struggle for political-economic inclusion, state security failure and rise of militias in other regions. It also examines the changes that the group has undergone over time as well as the current manifestation of the group. The main objectives of the study were to; trace the origin of Chinkororo among Abagusii in the period 1961-1990, to investigate the recruitment, training and organization of Chinkororo in the period 1991-2002 and to analyze the changing trends in the recruitment training and organization of Chinkororo in the period 2002-2010. The study is guided by Robert Merton’s strain theory and signaling theory. However occasionally the researcher borrowed some concepts form the rational choice theory and the labelling theory of crime to enrich this study.   The study utilized descriptive research design. The study targeted both females and males aged 18 years, and above within the County of Kisii who were knowledgeable as far as the Chinkororo movement is concerned. Purposive and snowballing sampling techniques were used to select the population sample. One hundred and thirty-six participants were interviewed. The research employs both primary and secondary sources of data. Primary data was obtained from direct interaction with the respondents in the field through conducting interviews and focus group discussions. Secondary data was generated from the critical textual analysis of the books, journals, dissertations, reports and magazines. Archival sources were also consulted. The findings revealed that Chinkororo emerged in the early 1970s due to state security failure, especially along the Gusii-Maasai borders, coupled with negative ethnicity and the rise of Kalenjin warriors and Maasai Morans among the Kipsigis and Maasai respectively. It further establishes that Chinkororo have specific recruitment age, training grounds and an organized hierarchical structure. The findings also indicate that Chinkororo have undergone transformations in terms of lifestyle, training and organizational structure. The movement is seen to have mutated from a neighborhood group, to a political movement and finally to a criminal gang. These changes were informed by intensified negative ethnicity in Kenyan politics as well as tough laws on illegal groups in Kenya. The study is significant because it will be a source and stimulus in formulating and executing policies related to such movements not only in Kenya but continentally.