The Nomadic Ethics of Leaving No One Behind
Samburu, Tugen, and Ilchamus Pastoralists in North-Central Kenya
Keywords:
Nomadic ethics, displacement, Kenya, Samburu, Tugen, IlchamusAbstract
This study examines the nomadic ethics of pastoralists and agropastoralists in Samburu, Tugen, and Ilchamus in Northern Kenya, focusing on their attitudes toward displacement. The investigation revealed that displaced pastoralists approached evacuation with a specific ethical mindset. Each ethnic group had its own criteria for deciding which people, animals, and objects to transport during the evacuation. To survive critical situations such as conflicts and droughts, every ethnic group seemed to have defined what could be termed a “minimum set of possessions,” which is strongly linked to their owners’ bodies. In essence, when considering an emergency evacuation, if individuals prioritize the most vulnerable parts of their bodies, it is understandable that they would also prioritize those most vulnerable within their community. It is common to assume that the principle of “leaving no one behind” is associated with Western values and Western-influenced countries. However, nomadic pastoralists in Northern Kenya have developed the spirit of “leaving no one behind” in a completely different context shaped by nomadism and uncertainty.
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