Kenyan Tribes Wage a War With Bows and Arrows

Armed and Ready

Pitched Battle

Maasai warriors clash with members of the Kalenjin tribe on a hill overlooking the Olmelil Valley. The battles have been taking place daily and follow codified, age-old traditions.

War Wound

Over 20 people have died in the fighting. This man, a Maasai shot in the face on the hill overlooking Olmelil Valley, survived.

Surgery

The Maasai man is treated at a clinic in the town of Kilgoris.

Weapon Maker

A Maasai craftsmen holds freshly made arrows. The tips are made from re-fashioned 4-inch nails.

Battle Plan

A Maasai man gives his fellow tribesmen instructions before they face members of the Kalenjin. The daily battles last several hours and are waged from a distance, with very few warriors engaging in close combat.

Out in the Open

During the post-election violence, the tribes discovered that the bow and arrow was a more deadly alternative than the machete. "Before this conflict, arrows were mainly used for activities such as hunting," says a policeman interviewed by Agence France Presse. "This is obviously something very wrong and very new."

On the Attack

The fights, which begin around dawn each day, are rarely interrupted by police.

Uphill Battle

Says one Kalenjin, "Here, we believe in fighting on a battlefield. We don't go at night to attack. It's no good."

Throwing Stones

 In addition to the bow and arrow, some of the warriors have adopted the sling.
Day's End