Francis Tarar: A Son of Sergoit

By William Kiptoo

Francis Tarar is a son of Sergoit. He grew up on Karo Farm, the son of a squatter on a Boer farm, and rose to become one of the best known figures in Uasin Gishu and in Kenya.

Growing Up on a Boer Farm

Karo Farm, which locals call Kapkaro, was one of the South African farms around Sergoit, later linked to the Emslie family and to today's Emsilies Primary School. Like many Kalenjin families of the time, Tarar's family lived on the farm as squatters, working for the settler in return for a place to live, to grow a little food and to keep a few cattle. Children of squatter families grew up between two worlds, herding on the farm by day and listening to the stories of their elders at night. That world is described in other stories on this archive, such as Kapkaro/Emsilies and The Uasin Gishu Puzzle.

Teacher, Businessman and Sports Leader

He was a teacher, a businessman and a sports administrator. He chaired Mwangaza Football Club of Eldoret, which played in the national league, and was later elected vice chairman of the Kenya Football Federation (KFF). At a time when football in the North Rift had few backers, his support gave many young players a chance to play at the top level.

Councillor and Member of Parliament

Tarar served as an elected councillor in the County Council of Wareng, and was later elected for two terms as Member of Parliament for Eldoret East, appearing in the records as Francis Tarar Lagat. He won the seat in 1988, lost it to Joel Barmasai in 1992, and won it back in 1997, both times on a KANU ticket. He also served as Assistant Minister for Lands.

When the Cloete family left Kenya in the 1960s, Concordia Farm at Koitoror was bought by local people, among them Francis Tarar. A school was later started on the farm; first called Concordia, it was renamed Koitoror in 1985. See Koitoror.

Today

Now retired from politics, he advises many young politicians free of charge. He belongs to the Kapchangwony family, who are spread across Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet and other parts of the North Rift, including Trans Nzoia, and he comes from the Sego clan.

From a squatter's son on a Boer farm to a seat in Parliament, his life follows the story of Sergoit itself, a land that changed hands and a people who made it their own.

Parliamentary dates are from published lists of members for Eldoret East Constituency.

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