Wonders of Sergoit Hills

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...

 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 ...

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...