The Turkana, originally from the hills north of Mount Elgon, migrated toward Lake Rudolf (L. Turkana) in the 18th century, taking over most of the territory around the lake. This region is one of the driest in East Africa, and it has been argued that their wars were not aimed at conquering territory but rather at capturing cattle to replace losses incurred during frequent droughts. Despite this, they drove out the original inhabitants and gained a reputation as fierce fighters.
The Turkana’s military organization was based on age-sets, known as asapan, which were sub-divided into territorial sections. Political leadership was provided by ritual divers, or ngimoru. Notably, outstanding figures rose to significant positions within the tribe, inspired by other pastoralist groups. This institutional structure clearly defined military roles, especially during the 19th century, when significant leaders such as Lokiriong and Lokirong flourished.
