40 Years Without a Plaque: The Iten Hospital That Never Had Its Opening Day

By Hillary Kosgey Arap Masut, from An Anthology of Memoirs

First shared in The Wonders of Sergoit Hills Facebook group on 4 December 2025.

One day in March 1985, Kenya’s second President, Daniel Toroitich arap Moi, came to Iten in the Elgeyo Marakwet District intending to inspect and then open the District Hospital. Everything had been set up.

At the time, the hospital had staff quarters and a 200 bed capacity; today it has grown to 250 beds. Musa, one of the groundbreakers, was a bulldozer driver from Western Kenya’s Tachoni sub tribe and witnessed the entire construction.

It is said that President Moi expected a standard multi storey hospital, a design he was familiar with. But on the day of the planned opening, he was shocked. He reportedly asked why the hospital had been built with structures that looked like stores, garages, or horse stables. He criticised the frames, the seating spaces, and the asbestos roofing. To him, the 42 acres of hospital land appeared wasted. He remarked that the designers knew Iten was a cold region, yet they had used a style meant for hotter areas.

What was meant to be a day for unveiling a plaque and planting trees turned into an awkward and disappointing event. Angered, President Moi directed his displeasure at the then powerful MP Nicholas Biwott and his counterpart Robert Kiptoo in the former Keiyo District. Without stopping to greet the people of Iten, his motorcade sped off toward Kabarnet, leaving behind only a tree to be planted.

The tree was an indigenous simotwet, a fig tree. In Kalenjin culture, planting a fig tree symbolises peace, blessings, protection, and a lasting legacy, often marking reconciliation, prosperity, or important promises. That was its purpose.

The plaque was never placed, leaving the hospital functional but without ever having been officially opened. Today, the 41 year old simotwet tree continues to serve the community in a remarkable way: its leaves are used to forecast the weather. When the tree sheds its leaves fully, it signals the end of the rains. When new shoots appear, the long rains typically start within a week.

Although the president never returned to officially open the hospital, I am planning to place a plaque myself to honour the beautiful tree, to remember the occasion, and to preserve its story for future generations, a tribute to an event that never was and to a hospital that has served the community for over 40 years.

First shared in The Wonders of Sergoit Hills Facebook group on 4 December 2025.