INTEGRATION ET CONFLITS D'ESPACESLes dynamiques territoriales des Pokot(Nord-ouest du Kenya)

Based on an analysis of the Pokot situation, this study aims to define the models used to integrate the populations in the North-West of Kenya in the nation state and examine how these models are appropriated by the local society. Designed as a buffer zone between the semi-arid no mans's land in the North and the high, fertile plateau in the South, the West Pokot District is today an Incontestable territorial referent that is the object of political claims and the border conflicts. Yet, the organisation of the cattle and grain commodity chains generates differentiated evolution processes in the plains and mountain areas. Farmers elaborate territorial re-composition and strengthening strategies, with no consideration of complementarity exchanges and relations of proximity between the high and low areas of the Rift. Thus, a vision of two distinct production territories between which new conflicts emerge is therefore imposing itself over the vision of a asingle homogenous ethic territoryS'appuyant sur une analyse de ls situation des Pokot, cette etude vise a definir les modeles employes pour integrer les populations du nord-ouest kenyan a l'Etate-nation et a examiner sous quelle forme ces modeles sont appropries par la societe locale. Concu comme une zone tampon entre les no man's land semi-arides du nord et les hauts plateaux fertiles du sud, le district de West-Pokot est aujourd'hui un referent teritorial indiscutable, objet de revendications politiques et de conflicts sur ses bordures. Poutant, l;organisation des filieres betail et cereales genere unprocessus d'evolution differenciee entre les espaces de la plaine et de la montagne. Les producteurs elaborent des strategies de recomposition et de reforcement teritorial, en dehors de toutes considerations des echanges de complemtarite et des relations de proximite entre l haut et le bas de l'escarpement du Rift. A la vision d'un seul territoire ethnique homogen s'impos donc plutot celle de deux territoires de productions distinct entre lesqueles naissent de nouveax conflicts