Chematya and Kabon Kabon
By Kiprop Kimutai Chematya and Kabon Kabon had four children. The eldest was Kimoi my grand-mother who got married in Sergoit. In 1926, she gave birth to her second daughter Chematya who was left-handed; that same year too there was a full Solar eclipse. Kimoi described it as darkness rising like a snake and swallowing up the sun, terrifying children and waking up hyenas, ghosts and other shadows that hid in the west waiting for the sun to set. When Chematya was about 5 years old, my grandfather who had a way with horses moved to Mr. Joseph Wright’s farm near Sing’ore where he proved an able hand at breaking horses. After a while Mr. Wright gave him a piece of land to farm and he brought along his wife Kimoi to stay with him so that she could also seek out work at the farm and get paid wages. Kimoi was so sad to leave Chematya behind but finally she left her daughter with her younger sister who lived in Kamariny and went on her way. Kimoi would rise up early every morning ...