Wonders of Sergoit Hills

 By William Kiptoo For centuries, the Marakwet people of Kenya have quietly demonstrated a level of engineering mastery that rivals many ancient civilizations. Located within the dramatic terrain of the Kerio Valley and the Elgeyo Escarpment, this community developed an intricate irrigation system by hand, carving furrows into solid volcanic rock to guide water from seasonal springs to semi-arid farmland. Archaeological evidence places the origins of these irrigation furrows at over 500 years ago. But it is not just the age of the system that is remarkable, it is the complexity and precision. The primary canals begin at carefully scouted spring sources, usually perched high on the escarpment. These channels maintain a consistent gradient of roughly 1:1,000, just enough to ensure water flows steadily without causing erosion. Secondary furrows branch out from the main lines with calibrated turns and intersections, regulated using stone checks and wooden weirs. Channel linings of comp...

By William Kiptoo   In 2011, Sergoit grabbed national headlines when plans for the Sergoit Golf and Wildlife Resort were unveiled. Marketed as a game-changing project, it was pitched as Kenya’s first true “sports city.” Investors promised a five-star hotel, championship golf courses, an athletics track to build on Eldoret’s reputation as the home of champions, a private airstrip, and luxury residential estates. Conservation was also part of the package, with a wildlife sanctuary integrated into the development.  The project generated enormous hype. Land prices in the area surged, and locals were told to expect jobs, infrastructure, and global attention. At the time, even rumors circulated that the Kruger family, long-time farmers around Sergoit, would exit Kenya after selling large tracts of land to developers. But more than a decade later, the dream has stalled. The grand masterplans and promotional pitches have given way to silence. No golf course, no hotel, no airstrip. Ins...

By William Kiptoo It’s the mid-1960s, and the sun dipped behind Karuna hills in Moiben, painting the sky in hues of orange and crimson. John William Hosking, a colonial officer with a stern face and dusty boots, leaned against his Land Rover. He spoke with clipped authority, gesturing toward the acacia thickets.  “This land has seen lions,” Hosking said. “That’s why we called it Kambi Simba. You’ll need courage to tame it.”  Kimwatan, dressed in a worn coat that still carried the scent of hides from his trading days in Elgeyo escarpment, stood firm. His cousin, William Chemweno, had already told him the settlers were leaving, that the future belonged to those who dared to plant roots in these plains.  “I don’t fear lions,” Kimwatan replied. “I fear wasted land. Give me the papers, and I’ll show you what this soil can yield.”  The handshake that followed was more than a transaction. It was the passing of an era. Hosking walked away from colonial ownership; Kimwatan st...

 By William Kiptoo In the early 1970s, Moiben in Uasin Gishu County was part of Kenya’s post-independence land redistribution program. Large settler farms were subdivided and allocated to local families, creating new settlements. Among these was the area that would later be known as Torochmoi. As part of the resettlement plan, essential amenities were set aside, including a new school to serve the children of the farming families. Initially, this school and settlement had no formal name. A story is told that in 1978, Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi, then Vice President of Kenya, visited the new settlement and its school. Moi was a local son of the Rift Valley, and his rise in national politics carried symbolic weight for communities in Uasin Gishu and beyond. It is said the residents gave Moi a warm welcome, and in appreciation, they chose to name the school Toroch Moi. In the local Kalenjin language, Toroch means “welcome.” Thus, Toroch Moi literally translates to “Welcome Moi.” This ac...

By William Kiptoo UG  High School is located in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. It is a public secondary school that admits students from across the region. The school was established during the post-independence expansion of education in Kenya. It has grown to serve both boys and girls. It is part of Eldoret’s network of secondary schools that include Moi Girls High School Eldoret and Wareng High School. Eldoret itself was founded in 1905 and became a hub for education during the colonial period. After independence in 1963, the government expanded secondary education rapidly. UG High was among the schools built to meet the demand for education in Uasin Gishu County. The school has contributed to educating generations of students in the region. It offers academic programs alongside extracurricular activities. It continues to play a role in shaping the educational landscape of Eldoret. Notable Kenyans such as Major General Mohammed Hussein Ali attended Uasin Gishu High Scho...

By William Kiptoo Cheboror, a location in Kesses Constituency, Uasin Gishu County, is not only known for it's recent viral story about a fake police station becoming a bar, but also the story of the Ogiek,a community whose decades‑long struggle for land justice remains unresolved. In 1995, Cheboror Farm was officially established as L.R. No. 24644 (later Lainguse/Lainguse Block 4), measuring 788.30 hectares. It was set aside through an executive order and legal notices to provide land for the Ogiek, who had faced repeated evictions from their ancestral forests. The farm was subdivided into 358 parcels, including plots for public utilities such as primary schools, signaling an effort to rebuild not just homes but a community. Title Deeds and Delayed Justice After years of bureaucratic delays, title deeds were eventually prepared and issued to the approved list of 358 allottees, with ceremonies reported in 2018 and again in 2024. Officials urged beneficiaries not to sell their land b...

By William Kiptoo Photo credit of Kondoo, the large farm near Burnt Forest in Uasin Gishu County is located in the Ainabkoi Sub-County of Uasin Gishu. The area is inhabited mainly by the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities. During the colonial period, the land was known as Koima Farm. It was owned by a European settler identified as Mr Tines. At the time, the farm formed part of the White Highlands, a region reserved for European settlement. African workers were employed on these farms but did not hold legal land ownership rights. After Kenya’s independence in 1963, several settler owned farms were transferred to public institutions. Koima Farm came under the management of the Central Agriculture Board (CAB). Under CAB, the land was primarily used for sheep rearing. The Kiswahili word for sheep,  kondoo , became commonly used to refer to the farm, eventually replacing the original name. It was divided into Kondoo Farm 1-7. In the post independence period, the Government of Kenya acquir...

By William Kiptoo   In 2023, I shared a story tittled  ”Lake Sergoit and the Fascinating Tale Behind the Name Charar."  The post explored the origin of the local name, Charar, and the cultural meanings attached to it. Here is an updated version, added on the cultural and historical framing based on further research (2025). As you know knowledge is never static....read on and let me know what you think. Lake Sergoit, sometimes called Charar, lies quietly in the heart of Uasin Gishu County, not far from Eldoret. To most travellers, it is just a shimmering patch of water beneath the shadow of Sergoit Hill, but to the communities that live around it, the lake carries stories older than memory. While the true meaning of the name Charar is not yet still clear, some elders I interviewed claim that it comes from the Kalenjin word “charar”, meaning “to flow” or “to overflow.” That it evokes the sound and movement of water surging through the plains after heavy rains. Elders say th...