Inter-clan tensions

The Gabra and Borana, two large ethnic clans, have resided in northern Kenya for generations, with the Borana also residing in Southern Ethiopia. While the two clans had coexisted, they would encounter violent inter-clan conflicts consisting of resource disputes and cattle raiding practices typical of the region. The conflict culminating with the Turbi massacre can be traced back to a 2002 unsolved murder of a Gabra man. The Gabra, believing the Borana to be responsible for the murder and, in retaliation, raided the Borana, stealing seven hundred twenty-eight goats. This escalation increased the frequency of conflict, necessitating intervention in the region. In conjunction with the Kenyan government and several NGOs, clan officials held several talks between the two clans devising a peace plan following the framework of the Modogashe Declaration (2001), a document agreed upon by several pastoralist clans, outlining the consequence and reparations of inter-clan violence in Northern Kenya. These meetings were found to be largely inconclusive and unsuccessful. The resolution, which stipulated the transfer of goats as reparations, was largely rejected by both clans. January 2003, the three-year period of escalation within clan relations, Kenyan President Mwaki Kibaki,visited the Madera region in northeastern Kenya, criticizing the reparation system laid out by the Modogashe Declaration. His comments reduced the effectiveness of a system that de-escalated inter-clan conflicts, eventually leading to the District MP dissolving the Modogashe Declaration.

Several unsuccessful meetings were called in the following three years to ease clan tensions, all unsuccessful, until peace conditions had finally been agreed upon in May 2005. This peace was short-lived as Ethiopian Boranas were killed, leading to retaliatory conflicts and worsening the already severe clan tensions. The conflict eventually resulted in the death of Borana chief Benjamin Boru Wario. This sparked several more violent attacks, culminating with a series of raids conducted by around one thousand Borana bandits on Gabra villages surrounding Turbi on July 12, 2005.

Marsabit-District Pastoralist conflict

Northern Kenya, dubbed the "Badlands," is home to extensive livestock production and generations of ethnic pastoral violence. The region is primarily home to nomadic pastoralists. Pastoralists, dependent on the vitality of their livestock, often engage in resource conflicts amongst other pastoralist clans concerning access to water and pasture. As access to resources declines, the frequency of interclan violence increases, along with the prominent culture of cattle theft. Sitting on the border between Ethiopia and Kenya, the region has historically led to ethnic divisions between the transfer of Borana across Ethiopian and Kenyan borders. A consequence of British colonialism was the transfer of nomadic clans across borders, in line with political objectives. This transfer, especially in the crossing of Ethiopian Borana into Kenya, increased the interethnic animosity, as conflict, or instead, difference, was not limited to the ethnic lines but the intersection of national identity.

Marsabit District is located in Kenya's driest region, with around 80% of its population being pastoralists Home to several pastoralist clans ( Gabra, Borana, Turkana, Rendille, and Samburu.) The region is notorious for major violent conflicts between ethnic groups. Following droughts, the nomadic clans tend to converge around existing water sources, often competing for the survival and success of their livestock.

Gabra retaliation

Similar to the series of skirmishes leading to the massacre, the Gabra responded to the violence with an attack on ten Borana in Bubisa, Kenya. Gabra attackers stormed a church vehicle driven by an Italian priest, removing and killing the Borana, including four children.

Government response

A week after the massacre, Kenyan Red Cross reported that Marsabit had around nine thousand displaced people, mainly Gabra. The Red Cross appealed for KSh.53.9 million/= (US$709,000) in aid but received only a tiny proportion of their request. Following the massacre, the Kenyan government faced widespread backlash for its inadequate response and failure to prevent it. Northern Kenya has long been subjected to gross neglect by the government, failing to provide adequate security and lacking the concern to do so. The government has long failed to develop the region, allowing for political, economic, and social instability and fostering a culture of violence and lawlessness. There had been clear evidence of an impending attack in Turbi, pointing to government failure to place preventative measures. The attack was so anticipated, as the reason most victims of the attack were children and elderly because the men were in the fields where they expected the attack to occur,^[1] Nineteen days before the massacre, an MP had called a press conference to discuss the inevitability of a severe interethnic conflict, due to an increase in sporadic killings and violence, since January 2005. The Kenyan government recognized its role in the massacre but vehemently denied its negligence contributed to the violence. Defending themselves, they pointed out the several peace talks they had conducted before the massacre. The government cited political ethnocentrism as the key contributor to the conflict, claiming they had done an adequate intervention, but could not prevent hostilities fueled by political leaders in the region

It took twelve hours for news of the Turbi Massacre to reach Marsabit Town. Troops were dispatched, killing ten bandits and recovering around five thousand sheep by dusk. A military force authorized by Kibaki of around two thousand was dispatched but did little to track down the offending Borana bandits as most had already crossed into Ethiopia.