Wonders of Sergoit Hills

You may have observed the cave-like formations scattered across various locations in Uasin Gishu County. These are ancient Maasai stone Kraals. Several years ago, the Uasin Gishu plateau was an expanse of grassland, serving as a grazing ground for the Wa-kwafi tribe until they were forcibly displaced by the Masai. Following their departure, the buffalo, eland, hartebeest, rhinoceros, and zebra thrived undisturbed, save for occasional encounters with passing caravans of European explorers or the Andorobo people. Dotting the plateau were numerous Maasai Kraals, circular enclosures constructed from earth with strategically placed openings. Due to the scarcity of wood, the houses within these kraals were built using stone and mud. These structures resembled mounds of stone and earth, with central openings that was covered with bullock hides during during harsh weather. The inhabitants would then nestle inside, resembling birds in their nests. Today, these kraals are merely remnants of ear...

  #tbt   The Star Newspaper: October 23, 2020 Kalenjin elders from 10 sub-tribes on Thursday held a rare prayer ceremony during which they asked God to cleanse and bless their land. The ritual is observed after several centuries. Jews and Arabs are the other communities known to conduct such rituals. “Our forefathers planned to carry out this exercise way back in 1914-1920, but they were disrupted by colonial civil wars,” Nandi's Mzee Kipkoech Bittok said. According to Bittok, the Jews already have had theirs. "Arabs are preparing to do it any time soon,” he said. The elders said their culture of sacrifice is similar to the biblical one performed by Abraham and Moses and their descendants. The prayer ceremony was held at the foot of Sergoit hill in Uasin Gishu county. It was attended by more than 50 chosen representatives – men, women and children from Nandi, Kipsigis, Okiyek, Tugen, Keiyo, Marakwet, Sengwer, Sabaot, Terik and Pokot. The Kalenjin consider Sergoit hill sacred. ...

 By William Kiptoo Beyond its geological significance, Sergoit Hill holds immense cultural and traditional significance for the indigenous communities that call this region home. It has been a sacred place for the Kalenjin community for generations, believed to hold spiritual energy and ancestral wisdom. The hill is often the setting for rituals, ceremonies, and gatherings, where the community comes together to honor their heritage and seek guidance from the spirits of their ancestors. For example, on October 23, 2020 Kalenjin elders from 10 sub-tribes held a cleaning ceremony at the Hill during which they asked God to cleanse and bless their land. The elders said their culture of sacrifice is similar to the biblical one performed by Abraham and Moses and their descendants. They slaughtered a brown and black bull named Samoe to appease the gods. Their prayer items included wealth, health, education and procreation. The rituals and ceremonies are an example of the vibrant cultural...

From the history of the Reformed Church of East Africa In the early 1900s, some people from the Boer republics in South Africa moved to Eastern Africa after the Anglo-Boer War. They didn't want to live under British rule, so they settled in Kenya. These migrant farmers were part of the Reformed Churches in South Africa. They formed their own congregation called Vergenoeg in Eldoret, Kenya. The land there was fertile and perfect for farming. At that time, Kenya was still a German colony called German East Africa, but it would soon become a British colony after World War I.  Rev. M. P. Loubser became the first minister of the congregation. He, along with other farmers, established a ministry among the farmworkers. In 1944, the congregation decided to call its first full-time missionary. Rev. Loubser had left money in his will specifically for mission work, which made this possible. They bought a school building called Broederstroom, which is now known as Plateau, to be used as a miss...