AN INVESTIGATION OF CLANISM FACTOR IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES AMONG THE ILKISONKO SECTION OF THE MAASAI IN LOITOKITOK SUB-COUNTY

The Maasai people are highly patriarchal society with the men being the key decision makers in the families and communities. The male culture is organized into age-sets, with chosen age sets leaders like the Olaiguanani (chief), Olopolosi Olkiteng, Olotuno (leader of the elders), Oloiboni (seer) and Oloboru-enkeene playing significant roles in shaping the leadership epitome of the Maasai society. The Maasai community is faced with many challenges key among them being ignorance, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and clan feuds and hatred among members of the same clan and families. The issue of clanism has continued to play a crucial role in deciding the destiny of many leaders in the community as well as the distribution of resources within the community. The Maasai society consists of various sub-clans which originated from the two major clans or moieties i.e. the Orok-kiteng and Odomong’i. Under the two major moieties are various sub-sections (iloshon) varying between 14-22 straddling Kenya and Tanzania. One such sub-tribe is the Ilkisonko. Clanism has for a long time been used to influence the selection and appointment of leaders to various slots, sometimes disregarding other important bench points such as education and choice of the people. The distribution of resources and leadership slots has therefore heavily relied on the issue of which clan will benefit or has been benefiting. Clanism had continued to play a major role in the retention of leaders of particular clans in office. Other clans have had little opportunity left to them despite the fact that all Maasai are members of one of the two major umbrella clans. The clanism effects have manifested itself in the group ranches leadership hierarchies, provincial administration appointments and have spilled into the elections of School Management Committees (SMCs) and Board of Management (BOMs) in our primary and secondary schools. Eligibility for recruitments into the county government is also drawn on clanism boundaries. In return, some clans have continued to benefit more at the expense of others. Though clanism as a cultural activity is uniquely Maasai, it is the view of this study to highlight the need of identifying its influence and the role it plays in the ultimate composition of leaders among the Ilkisonko Maasai in Loitokitok Sub County. The study recommends the positive embalming of this noble idea for the good intention and benefit of all in the community.