Posts

History of RCEA Chemaluk Local Church

The Reformed Church of East Africa (RCEA) Chemaluk Local Church in Moiben, Uasin Gishu was established in 1969 at Shamtreck Farm, near Marura Trading Center, presently the site of Equator Flower Farm. Initially, the church was known as Mutwot Local Church until the year 2000 when it adopted its current name, RCEA Chemaluk. The origins of the church date back to its beginnings as a preaching post, serving a few African families employed as laborers at Shamtreck Farm, which was owned by a Boer settler. These families initially gathered for worship at a small farmhouse until 1972 when the church relocated to Marura Trading Center. Up until 1975, the church was administered by missionaries from the Plateau area as part of RCEA’s broader mission work. Both white missionaries and a few ordained African ministers regularly visited Mutwot to nurture the young congregation and administer sacraments. In 1975, the Plateau Parish was divided to create several new parishes, and Mutwot became one of...
Post a Comment
Read more

William Chemweno’s Legacy of Business and Farming in Uasin Gishu

Image
By William Kiptoo In the heart of Eldoret town, where Uganda Road intersects with Oloo Street, stands Wilchem Building, a structure that holds the memories of a bygone era. For many residents, Wilchem isn’t just a business complex—it’s a symbol of the town’s vibrant commercial life during the 1990s and early 2000s. At its peak, the building hosted popular enterprises like Baringo Drapers, a popular clothing and fabric store,   Otto Café—now Otto Line—and Sai Electronics, a household name for consumer goods. Even today, the building houses essential businesses, including Kenya Seed and Eldoret Shuttle offices, contributing to the town’s bustling economy and modern urban life. Behind this iconic building was William Chemweno, a visionary entrepreneur and farmer from Moiben, Uasin Gishu County. Chemweno, along with other prominent Keiyo businessmen such as Kiboy and Atanas Kandie, made early investments in town and were instrumental in shaping Eldoret’s early growth. Their investments...
Post a Comment
Read more

Meet Jimmy: The Tree Caretaker of Ronald Ngala Street, Eldoret

Image
By William Kiptoo James Nderitu, fondly known as Jimmy, is a familiar face along Ronald Ngala street in Eldoret. Despite not being an official employee of Uasin Gishu County, Jimmy voluntarily takes care of the trees that line the street, making it one of the most decorated streets in the newly established city. In 2013, Jimmy planted the trees himself and has been maintaining them ever since. Starting with one side of the street, he has now expanded his efforts to the opposite side. Running a puncture repair business on the busy street for over 15 years, Jimmy has seen the area transform from a swamp to a bustling street with Zion mall. Jimmy's motivation comes from his desire to give back to the community. He does this work free of charge because he wants to make a positive impact. He even filled a big hole in the road by himself (before the street was constructed) to ensure vehicles could access the garage, showing his dedication to the community. Despite his good intentions, Ji...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Story of Mahindi Hotel in Eldoret

Image
  By William Kiptoo Mahindi Hotel in Eldoret was a popular spot back in the 1980s. This three-story building offered entertainment, dining, and lodging options in town. The building also housed various businesses, including a well-known bar called Mini Bar, which had a cool Jukebox for music lovers. At one point, Mahindi Hotel was the tallest building in town until the New Miyako Hotel was constructed in 1980. The hotel was named after its owner, Mr. Mahindi Gitonga. Originally from Gakoe village in Kiambu, Mahindi was the younger brother of Ngugi Gitonga, who owns Sosiani View Hotel and Eldo Bliss Hotel in the adjacent street. Their father, Gitonga, worked for a European settler in Kiambu and taught his sons how to repair bicycles, which he learnt from the settler. When the Mau Mau emergency was declared in 1952, Mahindi and Ngugi joined the fight against British rule and stayed in the Aberdare Forest until Kenya gained independence in 1963. After independence, Mahindi and Ngugi s...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Rothschild Giraffes’ presence in Sergoit

Image
By Henry Kibiwot Chebii The Rothschild Giraffes’ presence in Sergoit is indeed a testament to conservation efforts. The Rothschild Giraffe, known scientifically as Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi, is a subspecies of the Northern giraffe and is classified as Near Threatened. It’s one of the most endangered giraffe populations, with an estimated 1,399 mature individuals in the wild as of 20181. The Sergoit Wildlife Sanctuary plays a crucial role in preserving these majestic creatures. Established by the Kruger family, the sanctuary not only provides a haven for the Rothschild Giraffes but also for other species like Dikdiks, Antelopes, and Gazelles. The historical roaming of these giraffes across the Uasin Gishu plateau and their subsequent transfer to areas like Sergoit have been significant in preventing their decline. The Rothschild Giraffes are distinguished by their coat, which has broader dividing white lines and lacks spotting beneath the knees, giving them the appearance of we...
Post a Comment
Read more

History of Areas Surrounding Sergoit Hill

 By Henry Kibiwot Chebii Two weeks ago i had a chat with an old man from Moiben Junction,Mzee Suu who happened to have worked for Sir Albert Steyn of El-Farm. He told me the original owner of Kaptuli was a Mzungu known as Tom who happened to be father to Alfred Tooley. According to him Kap Kulunga is an African term that was used to refer to Krugers.Kap Kulunga farm actually belonged to one of Krugers. The present day Bishop Muge was inhabited by one Stephanus Petrus Kruger the grand father of current Kruger in Sergoit. He also told me that before independence El-farm wasn't as big as it is today.Koos Prinsloo of Kaplogoi and Mzungu at Rock Farm gave out their farms to Steyn family. JJ DU Toit was the last owner of El-farm before the then powerful minister Nicholas Biwott acquired the farm.JJ Du Toit had his farm machineries and he used to assist other Europeans till their farms.This was before Kenya attained independence.He used to roam from farm to farm in Uasin Gishu,Nandi and ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Lost Wildlife Paradise of Uasin Gishu

Image
By William Kiptoo Did you know that Uasin Gishu was once a bustling wildlife paradise? This is why places in Uasin Gishu have names like Kipsoen (buffaloes) and Chemarmar (zebras). Back in 1908, Cecil Hoey wrote about how the Uasin Gishu plateau was full of game that roamed freely from the Elgeyo escarpment to Mt. Elgon and Nandi. Europeans like Hoey came to Uasin Gishu to hunt for ivory and skins/hides, making a fortune from hunting, while others like former American President Roosevelt did it just for fun. When Boer farmers started growing crops on the plateau, they had to deal with animals eating their harvest. Hoey documents an episode where he witnessed colonial farmers once killing 200 Zebras in a single day in Karona area to protect their crops. Not too long ago, the journey from Soy to Eldoret was a magical experience. Monkeys swung from tree to tree, putting on a show, while brown antelopes grazed peacefully in the grasslands. Maili Tisa was known as the home of giraffes, with...
Post a Comment
Read more