The Kruger family at Sergoit

The Kruger family in Sergoit on the Moiben plateau, is a well-known farming family in Uasin Gishu County. They operate large-scale farming on their 5,000 acres of highly mechanized farms. Now in its fourth generation, the family engages in commercial farming of maize, wheat, barley, and dairy products, while also being avid conservationists. They utilize a range of machinery such as plowing tractors, combine harvesters, spraying machines, and road graders to maintain their farm.

Reports suggest that the Kruger family produces around 4,000 tonnes of grain annually, equivalent to approximately 44,000 bags of maize. Their farm comprises 1,500 acres of barley, 2,000 acres of maize, and 1,000 acres of wheat. The remaining 100 acres are allocated for dairy farming, a residential compound, and a 110-kilometer graded road network. Moreover, the Krugers have a 1-kilometer airstrip on their property. The family's land also houses the Sergoit Hill wildlife sanctuary, spanning 500 acres and providing a habitat for various wildlife species, including the Rothschild Giraffe, antelopes, duikers, and a diverse array of bird species.

In 2011, the Kruger family divested 570 acres of their land to the Emo Foundation, 150 acres to Jamii Milling Company, and 1,200 acres to individual smallholders. The remaining 3,000 acres are held in trust with the Sergoit Golf and Wildlife Resort, a property owned by the Sergoit Holdings Limited, a multi-billion dollar corporation. The company has strong ties to Jamii Telecommunications and Kass Media.

Stephanus (Fanie) Petrus Kruger (left) and his younger brother Engie Martin (Tinie) Kruger (right)

The Kruger family’s roots can be traced back to Mpumalanga, South Africa, where they migrated in 1908. They are descendants of the Van Rensburg Trek migrants who moved to Kenya during the British colonial period. The family has a rich history and is considered one of the prominent families in South Africa.

In 1957, during the Mau Mau uprising and the events leading up to Kenya’s independence in 1963, many white farmers were selling off their holdings, fearing reprisals from the local black population. The Kruger family had also decided to leave Kenya for South Africa. However, Jan changed his mind after arriving in South Africa and returning to Kenya, acquiring Kenyan citizenship, and buying up cheap farmland from the settlers who were leaving for South Africa.

Stefanus Kruger, a sturdy figure clad in the distinctive short pants traditionally worn by white farmers in the South African hinterland, assumed ownership of the farm following the passing of his father, Ernst Kruger, in 1983. Jan was married to Leen, and they had three children, including Fanie and Engel Martin (Tinie). Leen was known for her short temper, and her Luhya workers used to call her “Kadunyi,” meaning hot-tempered. Fanie and Tinie attended Middleburg se Hoe”rskool school in South Africa between 1971 – 1976 and continued to maintain close ties with their South African heritage. In 1985, Fanie married Carol, and they had two children.

Fanie intensified farming activities and became a leading farmer in Uasin Gishu after the death of his father. In 1996, he established a wildlife sanctuary and brought in thirteen giraffes. The sanctuary is supported by the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) and the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW). It aims to save the Rothschilds giraffe species, which are facing extinction.

The Rothschilds live in the open woodlands, savannah, and grasslands and can be distinguished from other sub-species by their white leg stockings which have no markings on them. They are also known as the Baringo giraffes and are the most endangered of the nine giraffe sub-species. Apart from the ones found at the Kruger farm in Sergoit, the Rothschild can also be found in Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya and Murchison Falls National Park in northern Uganda. They can be seen living in small herds, with males and females only mixing for mating.