Sergoit at a Glance

By William Kiptoo

First shared in The Wonders of Sergoit Hills Facebook group on 10 March 2021.

Sergoit Location lies in the high altitude zone of the Moiben plateau in Uasin Gishu County. It covers about 234 square kilometres and borders Moiben to the north, Elgeyo Marakwet County, and Tembelio, Kimumu and Kiplombe Wards.

People and Centres

Sergoit has an estimated population of about 10,000, concentrated mainly around Chepkanga and Marura. The main centres are Chepkanga, Marura, Moiben Junction, Kaptuli, Tugen Estate, Kapnyangi and Kaprobu. The roads are fairly good but still give trouble in the rainy season. The area carries a long heritage from the South African Boer families who settled here, and it is home to athletes, artists and leaders whose stories we hope to tell on this archive.

Climate and Farming

Sergoit has a cool, temperate climate and rich, fertile soils, ideal for wheat, barley and maize, as well as beans, vegetables and dairy. Some parts are prone to dry spells between December and March.

Maize is the main crop, grown mostly for sale, with only a small share kept for the household. Larger farms intercrop maize with beans, while smaller farms mostly grow maize alone. Potato farming is mostly small scale. Dairy farming is widespread, though yields are average, and most farms are run extensively or semi intensively. Milk is collected at several points and cooling plants for large processors such as Brookside and New KCC, and for smaller processors at Sugutek and Tugen Estate. Some milk is sold raw in Kaptuli, Chepkanga, Marura and Eldoret town.

Farmers have formed cooperative societies to bulk their maize for sale to millers. The cooperatives also provide cheaper inputs and drying facilities so that maize reaches the right moisture content. Sugutek Cooperative Society and Tugen Estate play a key role, and the maize goes both to large millers such as Unga and to smaller millers, including Jamii Milling in Sergoit itself.

Health

Sergoit Location has six health facilities: Chepkanga Health Centre, Ilula Dispensary, Tugen Estate Dispensary, Koitabataoi Medical Centre near Eldoret town, Samoei Medical Clinic next to Samoei Educational Centre, and Sergoit Dispensary (Eldoret East). At the time of writing, Ilula, Koitabataoi and Sergoit dispensaries were not yet operational, and only Chepkanga and Samoei offered round the clock services, including weekends. The facilities treat common illnesses such as malaria, pneumonia, tuberculosis, typhoid, gastritis, measles in children and skin diseases, as well as HIV and non communicable diseases. Reducing the stigma around HIV remains an important task.

Education

Most residents have completed primary education, but enrolment in secondary school and colleges remains low. The vocational training centre at Chepkanga trains young people in various trades.

Recreation and Investment

Places to relax include Sergoit Golf and Wildlife Resort, Sergoit View Gardens, Caesar's Waterfront on Lake Sergoit, and several smaller places in Chepkanga, Kaptuli and Chembulet. Sergoit airstrip lies on the nearby Kruger farm.

Leadership

Sergoit is a ward with an elected Member of the County Assembly, who leads development in the ward, while the Chief and Assistant Chief continue to guide residents.

Some of these figures date from a few years ago.

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