Garage Centre, Moiben

By William Kiptoo



When you visit Moiben Sub-county in Uasin Gishu, you may come across a trading center simply known as Garage. Many visitors mistakenly assume it’s a car garage. But its name carries a piece of local history going back to 1989.

The area was originally called Kipkoriony Centre. In those years, Moiben was booming with large-scale wheat and maize farming, and tractors were the lifeline of these activities. Seeing the need for local mechanical support, Mr. Richard Bartinga, a skilled mechanic from Beliomo Farm in Kabao, Ilula, set up a roadside workshop where he offered quick-fix services for broken-down tractors. His place became the “first aid station” for farm machinery.
After retirement, Mr. Bartinga handed over the workshop to his son. Over time, people began referring to the area as "Garage"—a name that stuck and overshadowed the original name Kipkoriony.
Later, Mr. Rono introduced a welding service powered by a traditional Lister engine, further establishing the area as a go-to spot for mechanical services.
Today, Garage has evolved from its humble beginnings into a vibrant trading center, with shops, agro-vets, eateries, and other urban-style services serving the growing population of Moiben.

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