The Nandi Political Clans (Bororiosiek) and Their Colonial Locations

By Jackson James Singoei

The Nandi were organised into territorial units called bororiosiek (singular bororiet). In the colonial period these corresponded to numbered locations. Listed here in order of population, from the most to the least populous:

1. Kapchepkendi (the most populous): Chebolool, Sigilaiyekab arap Kerebei, Chebiriir Katuut, Muruto (Kaplolo). Location 2 (Kaiboi, Kabiemit, Kaplemur); Location 4 (Kilagan, Kabisaga, Lelmokwo, Ndonyongaria); Location 9 (Chepkunyuk, Mogoon, Lessos, Lelwak); Location 12 (Kapsaos, Kapkuong); Location 16 (Samitui, Kibwareng).

2. Kapmelilo ("Mi sakitiek ma, kot ab ndasimiet"): Location 3 (Kabiyet, Chepnoet, Kabiemit, Ndalat Gaa, Ndulele); Location 20 (Kemeloi 1); Location 21 (Chemelil); Location 24 (Kemeloi 2).

3. Kaptalam ("Che loklokianu ak gariik, che bo ma ki kiop ko somok, che bo arap Kuna"): Location 6 (Ndubeneti, Mogoget); Location 5 (Kaplamai, Kabirirsang, Kilibwoni, Tulon); Location 15 (Ndurio, Kapkolei, Kiptiongin, Kibisem, Chemursoi); Location 18 (Maraba, Kongoro).

4. Kaptumois: Location 7 (Kiminda, Kapsabet, Kamobo, Samoo, Baraton, Kamoiywo, Sironoi); Location 10 (Kaptumo, Kaboi, Kabokwo, Siksik).

5. Koilegee ("Che kisal Tabolwa, chepo arap Manyinya, sirgoi, makiesei amaes koilegee"): Location 8 (Kosirai, Mutwot, Chepterit); Location 11 (Mosombor).

6. Kabooch ("Kosach nyim kot kole Kaptumois"): Location 13 (Keburo, Kapcheno); Location 17 (Kesegon, Kaptumek).

7. Tibing'ot ("Tebee garik"): Location 1 (Chepterwai, Sang'alo, Kapkoimur, Kurgung).

8. Kapsiodoi: Location 14 (Lelgoi, Murguiywo, Chepkong'ony, Koyo).

9. Kabianga: Location 23 (Siwo, Kaptien, Kapkures).

10. Kapsile: Location 22 (Cheptol, Kapno).

11. Talai (the least populous, "Ng'wan kut"): Location 25 (Kapsisiywa).

Others include Murkaptuk.

Changing a Bororiet

People of the same clan (oreet) were not necessarily restricted to one bororiet. People could, and still do, change bororiet through migration without changing their oreet. Some families were advised to move, perhaps to escape repeated misfortune. If a family was haunted by repeated deaths that pointed to a curse, a ceremony reminiscent of Kap Kiyai was performed to allow it to change bororiet by "crossing a river," in keeping with the saying ma yaitoos miat aino, death does not cross a river. This elaborate ceremony was called raret, from rar, to trim or cut off. A family name such as Kirorei probably points to such a change. A case in point is the long standing ban on Kap Matelong, and all Kipkenda, from living in Chesumei, which is home to the relatively small but conservative bororiosiek of Cheptol, Kapno and Tibing'ot.

First shared in The Wonders of Sergoit Hills Facebook group.

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