Wonders of Sergoit Hills

By Henry Kibiwot Chebii The Rothschild Giraffes’ presence in Sergoit is indeed a testament to conservation efforts. The Rothschild Giraffe, known scientifically as Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi, is a subspecies of the Northern giraffe and is classified as Near Threatened. It’s one of the most endangered giraffe populations, with an estimated 1,399 mature individuals in the wild as of 20181. The Sergoit Wildlife Sanctuary plays a crucial role in preserving these majestic creatures. Established by the Kruger family, the sanctuary not only provides a haven for the Rothschild Giraffes but also for other species like Dikdiks, Antelopes, and Gazelles. The historical roaming of these giraffes across the Uasin Gishu plateau and their subsequent transfer to areas like Sergoit have been significant in preventing their decline. The Rothschild Giraffes are distinguished by their coat, which has broader dividing white lines and lacks spotting beneath the knees, giving them the appearance of we...

 By Henry Kibiwot Chebii Two weeks ago i had a chat with an old man from Moiben Junction,Mzee Suu who happened to have worked for Sir Albert Steyn of El-Farm. He told me the original owner of Kaptuli was a Mzungu known as Tom who happened to be father to Alfred Tooley. According to him Kap Kulunga is an African term that was used to refer to Krugers.Kap Kulunga farm actually belonged to one of Krugers. The present day Bishop Muge was inhabited by one Stephanus Petrus Kruger the grand father of current Kruger in Sergoit. He also told me that before independence El-farm wasn't as big as it is today.Koos Prinsloo of Kaplogoi and Mzungu at Rock Farm gave out their farms to Steyn family. JJ DU Toit was the last owner of El-farm before the then powerful minister Nicholas Biwott acquired the farm.JJ Du Toit had his farm machineries and he used to assist other Europeans till their farms.This was before Kenya attained independence.He used to roam from farm to farm in Uasin Gishu,Nandi and ...

By William Kiptoo Did you know that Uasin Gishu was once a bustling wildlife paradise? This is why places in Uasin Gishu have names like Kipsoen (buffaloes) and Chemarmar (zebras). Back in 1908, Cecil Hoey wrote about how the Uasin Gishu plateau was full of game that roamed freely from the Elgeyo escarpment to Mt. Elgon and Nandi. Europeans like Hoey came to Uasin Gishu to hunt for ivory and skins/hides, making a fortune from hunting, while others like former American President Roosevelt did it just for fun. When Boer farmers started growing crops on the plateau, they had to deal with animals eating their harvest. Hoey documents an episode where he witnessed colonial farmers once killing 200 Zebras in a single day in Karona area to protect their crops. Not too long ago, the journey from Soy to Eldoret was a magical experience. Monkeys swung from tree to tree, putting on a show, while brown antelopes grazed peacefully in the grasslands. Maili Tisa was known as the home of giraffes, with...

By William Kiptoo Did you know that Uasin Gishu was once a bustling wildlife paradise? This is why places in Uasin Gishu have names like Kipsoen (buffaloes) and Chemarmar (zebras). Back in 1908, Cecil Hoey wrote about how the Uasin Gishu plateau was full of game that roamed freely from the Elgeyo escarpment to Mt. Elgon and Nandi. Europeans like Hoey came to Uasin Gishu to hunt for ivory and skins/hides, making a fortune from hunting, while others like former American President Roosevelt did it just for fun. When Boer farmers started growing crops on the plateau, they had to deal with animals eating their harvest. Hoey documents an episode where he witnessed colonial farmers once killing 200 Zebras in a single day in Karona area to protect their crops. Not too long ago, the journey from Soy to Eldoret was a magical experience. Monkeys swung from tree to tree, putting on a show, while brown antelopes grazed peacefully in the grasslands. Maili Tisa was known as the home of giraffes, with...

  By Jerome Ogola Someome asked me where Soy is and I won't usurp the role of google maps to explain the geography of this place and will instead give you some little history and some little information, you won't find anywhere else To begin with Soy is America, the land opportunity, an addictive place where one cannot relocate from, unless you kill someone or take a KWFT loan. At least from experience, these two are the only factors that have made people leave Soy, for good As we proceed, it is important that you know that Soy, is an agemate of Kisumu, Nairobi and Eldoret, only that it might've suffered a ratoon stunting disease and refused to grow. It is a "katumani" a "mbilikimo" or what we called a "Congo Zaire" when we were young, when someone misled us that the tallest Congolese is the height of a cooking jiko Soy was founded in 1914 by Lt Col G. Swinston, who had retired from the British Royal army, when he established a hotel, and a ran...

(Adopted from The Standard, Jan, 26, 2022) Eldoret town in Uasin Gishu is a rapidly growing urban center with a population of nearly half a million according to the 2019 national census. It is the sixth most populated town in Kenya after Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Ruiru. Eldoret is known for having some of the oldest estates, established as people migrated to urban areas in search of jobs starting in the 1960s. These estates have unique names based on the social status and race of the residents. Some estates existed even before independence, with Africans living in estates like Kidiwa, Macharia, Kilimani, Majengo, and Kapsuswo near the Kipchoge Keino Stadium. Somalis lived in Kampi Somali, Indians in Eldoret West, and whites in Elgon View and Kapsoya estates. Elgon View estate was associated with affluent individuals such as politicians, athletes, civil servants, and businessmen. The estate was home to whites, government officials, and colonial administrators. After independ...

We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Mzee Kipkat Barmao Chepkurui (Kimurei) from the Kaplogoi village, Tembelio Ward, Moiben sub-county. On March 12, I had the honor of visiting him at his home to inquire about the settler who once resided there. At that time, he was not in good health, but Mzee graciously shared invaluable knowledge about the history of the area, including information about Koos Prinsloo, the former owner of the home he lived in. We are truly thankful to Mzee Kimurei and his Kaptoiyoi clan for their willingness to share their wisdom with us, allowing us to gain a deeper understanding of the history of Kaplogoi and the settlers who once called it home. The Wonders of Sergoit Hills would like to extend our condolences to the family and express our gratitude for Mzee Kimurei's significant contribution to our shared history. We will always be grateful for the wisdom and knowledge he shared with us during his lifetime. May the Lord rest his soul in peac...

By William Kiptoo Kihuga Square in Eldoret West is a historic landmark, standing as one of the oldest buildings in Eldoret town. Dated 1959, this place was a bustling business hub that was synonymous with Eldoret itself, especially in the 1980's and 1990's. The story of Kihuga Square traces back to the Gathitu family, who hailed from Nyagathanga hill in Muranga during the tumultuous Mau Mau war against British colonial rule. Nyagathanga Hill holds significance in Gikuyu folklore as the supposed residence of the Gikuyu god, Gikuyu, and his wife Mumbi. It was from this hill that their nine daughters dispersed to populate the Gikuyu world. Fleeing persecution from the British, the Gathitu family, led by their mother, sought refuge in the Rift Valley. They settled in various towns and areas such as Nyahururu, Nakuru, Timboroa, Uasin Gishu, Turbo, Maituma, and Sango. In Eldoret, they initially lived together in a village-like community in Majengo, alongside other migrant families. T...

  Adopted from The Standard, Jan, 26, 2022) Eldoret town in Uasin Gishu is a rapidly growing urban center with a population of nearly half a million according to the 2019 national census. It is the sixth most populated town in Kenya after Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Ruiru. Eldoret is known for having some of the oldest estates, established as people migrated to urban areas in search of jobs starting in the 1960s. These estates have unique names based on the social status and race of the residents. Some estates existed even before independence, with Africans living in estates like Kidiwa, Macharia, Kilimani, Majengo, and Kapsuswo near the Kipchoge Keino Stadium. Somalis lived in Kampi Somali, Indians in Eldoret West, and whites in Elgon View and Kapsoya estates. Elgon View estate was associated with affluent individuals such as politicians, athletes, civil servants, and businessmen. The estate was home to whites, government officials, and colonial administrators. After ind...