The History of the Uasin Gishu Plateau: Sirikwa, Maasai and Nandi

By William Kiptoo. Parts of this history come from oral tradition.

First shared in The Wonders of Sergoit Hills Facebook group on 1 September 2023.

The Sirikwa Tribe and the Maasai

Before the colonialists came, the Uasin Gishu plateau was home to a group of people called the Sirikwa. They were closely related to the Wakwafi. They occupied the plains (soi) of what is now part of Trans Nzoia, Lugari and Uasin Gishu. Sirikwa had his first son named Chepkoilel. The plains have since been referred to as Kapchepkoilel.

Their settlement sites were known as Sirikwa holes, or hollows, which were saucer shaped hollows that have been found in various areas in Uasin Gishu.

These hollows were usually found in groups, sometimes numbering less than ten and at times more than a hundred, and were deliberately constructed to house livestock. These hollows were surrounded by a fence or stockade and, on the downhill side, a single gate, usually with extra works and flanking guard houses. In rocky terrain, stone walling substituted for fencing or provided a base for the same. Houses were not built inside the actual Sirikwa holes but were attached, however, and were constructed on the outer side of the fence, being approached through the stock pen and entered through a connecting door. These hollows are mostly covered over by grass and bush today.

The Maasai tribe came and took over the land from the Sirikwa to graze their cattle. This happened before 1885. The Maasai were really powerful and their territory stretched from the Nandi escarpment to Mt. Elgon. However, the Maasai also had conflicts within their own tribe, which caused a lot of fighting and even wiped out an entire clan.

A Terrible Drought and Diseases, Colonialism and Conflict

In 1898, a really bad drought hit the Central and Eastern Africa region. This was a big problem because there was not enough water and food for people and animals. To make things even worse, there were outbreaks of rinderpest, smallpox and locusts. These diseases caused a lot of Maasai livestock and people to die. It is estimated that between 25 and 75 percent of the population was wiped out because of this drought.

Around the same time, colonialism was happening, and the Kenya-Uganda railway was being built. Because of the drought and diseases, the Maasai and the Nandi fought each other to get more animals for grazing. This led to even more destruction and loss of life.

The Nandi Takeover

Towards the end of the 19th century, the Nandi went to war with the Maasai, and the Maasai were defeated. The battle was at a place called Kipkaren, the Nandi name for "the place of the spears." After the defeat, the Maasai moved southwards towards Nakuru and Laikipia. Some Maasai stayed behind and were assimilated by the Nandi, Keiyo and Tugen.

The Nandi then used the Uasin Gishu plateau as their grazing land until the colonial government took over in 1905. The Nandi staged a resistance against the Europeans' intrusion into their land. Because of their resistance, the government sent expeditions to punish them. There were several expeditions, in 1895, 1900, 1902 and 1903. The last expedition, in 1905, led to the defeat of the Nandi and allowed colonial rule to be established.

After the defeat of the Nandi, the Nandi people were forced to leave the Uasin Gishu plateau for the Nandi reserve, and strict controls were put on their movement. The few Maasai who were still there were taken to Trans Mara in trucks, through Eldama Ravine. They are known as the Uasin Gishu Maasai.

The first Europeans (including the Boers) who wanted to settle on the Uasin Gishu plateau applied for land in 1903. But because of the trouble with the Nandi, the plateau was closed to settlers until 1905. After the defeat of the Nandi, people were allowed to inspect the land again. This opened the door for European settlement in the area.

See also Who Were They: The Stone Holes of the Uasin Gishu and Closing the Plateau: A Colonial Letter of 1905.

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