Wonders of Sergoit Hills

  Kaptagat area in Uasin Gishu (or is it in Elgeyo Marakwet?) used to be home of colonial settlers, mostly from England. There were around 18 farms up on the Kaptagat ridge, and they even had a fancy hotel (Kaptagat Hotel) with a beautiful garden that the settlers took care of. One of the first settlers, the Fosters, started up Kaptagat Preparatory School back in 1936 on their farm. At first, the school was for kids aged 5 to 14, mostly white settlers. The Fosters even set up horse riding lessons for the students. Then in 1956, Jim Chitty took over as headmaster and bought the school from the Fosters. He wanted to make it more like a prep school you'd find in the U.K. Their "Musical Ride" got pretty famous in the Highlands region, and they even performed it for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at the Eldoret show in 1958. But in 1970, Jim Chitty left to start up another school called The Banda in Nairobi. The name originated from Kibanda (Swahili for makeshift) classrooms...

 By William Kiptoo There are different arguments about where the name Livingstone in Sergoit, Moiben came from. Some people think it might have something to do with the early settlers in Uasin Gishu, while others believe it could be connected to Dr. David Livingstone, a famous explorer from the 19th century. The truth is, the name Livingstone most likely came from the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) missionaries who started working with the Boer settlers in the Uasin Gishu Plateau in the 1930s. The Boers were a group of people from South Africa who settled in Kenya and were very proud of their culture and language. The missionaries were focused on helping the Boer farmers with their Christian mission work. In 1944, a group of DRC missionaries, led by EB Ebbys, came to the Uasin Gishu Plateau to continue the work that had started in the 1930s. They set up an outpost at the Steyn farm, which is now known as Livingstone. The missionaries had previously worked in Southern Africa, including...

  Kraulen, also known as Sergoit Holding Ground in Moiben, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, has been in the news recently due to ongoing controversy. This has prompted the local MP Hon. Prof. Phylis Barto to petition the matter to parliament for investigation. The issue revolves around the irregular allocation of land and the need to compensate families who gave up their land for public use. The land in question was historically alienated under the Crown and was designated for specific purposes during the colonial period. After Kenya gained independence in 1963, Crown Lands were transferred to the government. Sergoit Holding Ground was them converted and a Livestock Research Center for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development was established. It operated until the 1980s when President Daniel Arap Moi directed that 200 acres be given to four individuals as compensation for their 69 acres, which were acquired for extending St. Patrick's High School in Iten. Under the agreeme...

By William Kiptoo  Wattle trees, (Acacia Mearnsii or black wattle), were once a popular tree in Uasin Gishu, especially in Ainabkoi, Kapseret, and Turbo where the defunct East Africa Tanning Extract Company (EATEC) farmed 20,000ha of wattle. The tree, which is locally known as  Mti Ulaya , was specifically cultivated for dye and charcoal production. Wattle trees are cultivated in various countries due to the high tannin content in their bark, which is used in the leather industry. They grow rapidly and can be harvested within 6 years. However, their lifespan is short, lasting only about 10 years. Despite this, the quality of charcoal produced from these trees is excellent. Wattle trees became popular in Kenya since 1885 when it was first brought to Kenya by an Autralian missionary and planted in Murang'a. It wasn't until 1898 that their cultivation gained attention in the Rift Valley, and particularly in Uasin Gishu. The colonial government introduced it to reduce the reliance...

 By William Kiptoo Chepkanga center in Sergoit, Moiben, Uasin Gishu county, is an emerging urban center situated along the main Eldoret-Iten road, just a few kilometers away from Eldoret. With a growing population, Chepkanga is becoming a bustling business hub offering various business opportunities, schools, health facilities, and entertainment venues. Its proximity to Eldoret town and strategic location make it an ideal place for both residential and commercial purposes. Chepkanga is also set to be intersected by the eastern bypass. Nearby attractions include the University of Eldoret, Sergoit Hill, Iten, and Moiben town. After several years of stagnation, Chepkanga has recently started to experience growth, with an increasing number of residents purchasing plots and settling in the area. There are notable prominent individuals who have chosen to make Chepkanga their home. Chepkanga center has grown out of a convergence of four farms that share a common space: Shamtrack farm, t...