The Kalenjin tribe

The Kalenjin tribe

  07:15    Tabutany ak Cheplangat

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The Kalenjin tribe belongs to the Nilotic ethnic group called highland Nilotes which consists of the following sub-tribes spread throughout East Africa;

• Kipsigis

• Nandi
• Keiyo
• Marakwet
• Sabaot/Kony
• Pokots/Suk
• Terik
• Ogiek/Dorobo
• Tugen (Samor, Eldorais, Lembus,Pokor keben,Aror)
• Sengwer/Cherangany

The above are in Kenya while in Tanzania consists of:

• Barabaek
• Tatireek
• Hilbangrangaek
• Sonjoek
• Sirikwaek (Sindawi)
• Nataeek)
• Badyut
• Tatogaeek

In Sudan are Morule among others while in Uganda are Sebei or Kipsabiny among others.
The word or term ‘Kalenjin’ was coined by earlier scholars of the tribe during 1940s probably at Alliance High school. This is because all the sub tribes of Kalenjin always utter the word ‘Kaleeii’ meaning ‘I say or l say to you’, before uttering or saying any word. Thus the word ‘kaleeii’ is common to all of the sub-tribe hence Kalenjin collectively.

Earlier, the colonialist used to refer to all kalenjin as Nandis,thus actually all Kalenjin collectively resisted colonial rule in Kalenjin land, lead by legendary Koitalel Arap Samoei in Nandi, Kipchomber arap Koilegen alias kiptoingeny kochichlem, kibuigut Arap Singoe and Kipkirui Arap Boisio in Kipsigis land.All were sons of legendary Kipnyole Arap Turugat alias Simbolei.Koitalel Arap Samoei ,Kipnyole last born was finally assassinated by colonolist while others first born Kipchomber Arap koilegen and other brothers were finally deported.

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KALENJIN DOWRY

KALENJIN DOWRY

  10:04    Tabutany ak Cheplangat

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KALENJIN DOWRY

KALENJIN DOWRY

Dowry payment among the Kalenjin were as follows;

1. Teta ne abai (cow under lactation) this signifies procreation to the new family.

2. Eito ne iyumi tuga (Oxen).

3. Teta nebo riyotet/ne kotot (Cow near to conceive).

4. Roriat (Heifer).

5. Teta ne iyumi nego/iywoget (mature cow).

6. Kwesta/Kipkugeret (he goat for father).

7. Kechiriet/Chepkugeret (Sheep for mother).

8. Chepngabait/Roriat (token for upkeep especially during childhood).

9. Kechiriet nebo arwet (for mother in law so as to allow son in law call her Boger alternatively Goat with lamb for mother in law so as to allow son in law call her Boger.

10. Mwaita (soap for the father, lump sum money ranges between ten thousand to four hundred thousand shillings currently.

11.Chepletiot-Normally mature heifer where the son in law will later take back the calf. Normally Chepletiot is not commonly paid but in a situation where the husband querrels with his wife to the point where she goes to her real fathers home and the mistake emanates from the husband, the husband was compelled to pay chepletiot.

12.Nyoetab kaat (normally if the couple elopes without the consent of their immediate families the husband was supposed to pay a fine of normally five thousand to twenty thousand to his wife father/family)kiome sanian koigeny meaning that the assistance from inlaws is endless.

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Mugeni araap Monde Kipsigis Prophet

Mugeni araap Monde Kipsigis Prophet

  09:42    Tabutany ak Cheplangat

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Mugeni araap Monde must have been the most prominent messenger(Maotiot) in the entire Kipsigis and Nandi.

Mugeni araap Monde was the  most prominent messenger in
the entire Kipsigis and Nandi.

Mugeni araap Monde must have been the most prominent messenger(Maotiot) in the entire Kipsigis and Nandi. He worked closely with prophet Boiyot araap Tagaro of Belguut, Boiyoot araap Bwuoiyo of Ng’echereet,Silibwet, araap Sungula of the Sabaot and others. But who was Mugeni araap Monde? The younger generation may not have heard about him.

Mugeni araap Monde was a messenger of Woorkoik royal people. He relayed messages to Kipsigis from Woorkoiik because it was the customs. 

Mugeni araap Monde was the son Barg’etuny araap Simondi of Kipkendeek clan, the clan of former Bomet Governor, Hon Isaack Kiprono araap Rutto. 

It is believed that araap Simondi was a Nandi who had families in Kipsigis. Araap Monde was uncle(U mameet or Ngapu) of Kipchomber araap Koilegen and Koitalel araap Samoei. 

When the Nandis killed the great Woorkoiyoot Oloitorian Kipnyole Barbarani Simbolei araap Turugat in 1890, Mugeni brought some of Koitel’s brothers to Kipsigis. His mother was the daughter of araap Turugat .

In 1913, Mugeni was among a strong delegation of Kipsigis chiefs who had been invited to Mombasa by the British during the celebrations. When he was brought back home, the Europeans told the people, “This is your Mugeni(visitor) and from thence, he got the name Mugeni.

Kile Mugeni tun mee Soot negime teret, kome Bureti nekime sotet kome Belguut nekime aoito.

He also talked at length on Kenya’s leadership saying that in future a Kipsigis with “stars” on his face would rule Kenya.

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Kipchomber araap Koilegen

Kipchomber araap Koilegen

  09:21    Tabutany ak Cheplangat

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 Kipchomber araap Koilegen,the eldest son of Oloibon Kipyole Simbolei araap Turugat was one of the greatest heroes/diviners and woorkoiyoot of his time. 

After his dad was killed by Kapmelililo and Kapsiondoi war divisions of the Nandi, araap Koilegen went to rule the Kipsigis and expanded their territories by pushing the Luos and Abugusi further hence his other name was Kochichilem. 

Around 1901-3, a very Big Bull disappeared from King' George kraal in Northern England. the Bull crossed the English Channel and traveled all the way from North Africa to Kenya. The bull was first discovered in Laikipia where there European settlement but slowly moved towards Kericho. The veterinary doctors at the time discovered the strange bull which refused to be tamed. 

A message was sent to the settlers whether they had lost a bull and no one had lost any. A telegram was further sent to South Africa and none reported missing any bull. 

The veterinary doctors followed the Bull all the way from Laikipia to Kiptere in Belgut when it went and stayed peacefully in the Boma of araap Koilegen. when the bull reached araap Koilegen's boma, araap Koilegen touched its head and went straight to where there were other cattle and mingled freely with the rest of the livestock. 

This shocked the veterinary doctors at the time. They just took the Number which was emblazoned on the bull's ear and left. after months of investigation, word reached Kenya that a bull had disappeared in the boma of King George. it turned out to be the one that was in araap Koilegen's Boma. 

The interpretation is that the powers of the two Kings were competing.

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Ibinwekab Kipsigis (Age set)

Ibinwekab Kipsigis (Age set)

  03:23    Tabutany ak Cheplangat

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Ibinwekab Kipsigis 

• 1783 to 1801 was Nyongi 19 yrs,
• 1802 to 1819 was Maina 18 yrs,
• 1820 to 1836 was Chumo 17 yrs, 
• 1837 to 1853 was Sawe 17 yrs,
• 1854 to 1870 was Korongoro 17 yrs,
• 1871 to 1887 was Kaplelach 17 yrs,
• 1888 to 1904 was Kipnyige 17 yrs,
• 1905 to 1920 was Nyongi 16 yrs,
• 1921 to 1936 was Maina 16 yrs,
• 1937 to 1951 was Chumo 15 yrs,
• 1952 to 1966 was Sawe 15 yrs,
• 1967 to 1981 was Korongoro 15 yrs,
• 1982 to 1999 was Kaplelach 18 yrs,
• 2000 to 2018 was Kipnyige 19 yrs,
• 2019  onwards is NYONGI.

Age-set but the Nyongi age-set should have started in 2019.

Salanikab Ibinwek Komi Kou ni,

• 1854 to 1870 - Korongoro ko salanik ko: Kipkoimet, Kiptor mesendet, Kibelgot ak Kimariri.
• 1871 to 1887 - Kaplelach ko salanik ko: Kibol oeng, Kimut Aiywet, Masiba, Kebebucha ak Cheptech oret.
• 1888 to 1904 - Kipnyige ko salanik ko: Kipsil choget, Tabarit, Kiptil osiek ak Kiptil garit.
• 1905 to 1920 - Nyongi ko salanik ko: Kosigo, Kipsirgot, Kimelsiagit ak Bulu.
• 1921 to 1936 - Maina ko salanik ko: Mesyewa, Siling, Silobay ak Chemorta.
• 1937 to 1951 - Chumo ko salanik ko: Kimoino, Kiptindinyo.

by Joel Kimetto,  Hon Secretary, Kipsigis Community Clans Organization.

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Kalenjin Trees and Shrubs (English-Kalenjin)

Kalenjin Trees and Shrubs (English-Kalenjin)

  04:38    Tabutany ak Cheplangat

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Palm Tree

Kalenjin Trees and Shrubs (English-Kalenjin)
·        Mogoiywet  - Fig Tree
·        Chepeitet - Cedar
·        Chesasur - Vine Tree
·        Sosiot - Palm Tree
·        Siiwot- Stinging Nettle
·        Cheparus - Cypress
·        Chesarur - Pine
·        Rwait - Acacia
·        Chepunduki/chepsarur- Pine
·        Torokwo -Cedar-
·         Ketitab Alawa -Wattle Tree
·        Kikataniat -Macadamia Tree
·        Tebeswet Croton
·        Prunus Africana - Tendwet
·        Euphobia Candelabrum - Kuresiet
·        Kuryot –Teclea
·        Tarakwet- Cedar
·        Sebetaiyet - Nandiflame
·        Murkuywet - Elgon Teak
·        Emitiot- Olive
·        Sepesepe-Gravillea,
·        Cherongor - Custard Oil
·        Emitiot/Emtit - Olea Africana
·        Talapot - Sadom Apple
·         

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KEETIKAB KALENJIN

KEETIKAB KALENJIN

  04:13    Tabutany ak Cheplangat

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KEETIKAB KALENJIN 
1. Emityoot- used for erecting Mabwaita
2. Kurbanyaat- used in the performance os some 'mumeek' ceremonies
3. Lelechuet- used in the sprinkling of cattle 'Iseet-ab-tuga'i.e blessing herds and driving diseases e.g anthrax and rinderpest away
4. Macheget- used to warn people of danger, especially where a cow which died of anthrax had been buried
5. Marongeet- used in cursing ceremonies
6. Noogirwet- a tree with many muloonok. Used mostly during Kooito
7. Cheebitet- a very hard tree. Used in construction of houses and fences. A house was not to be built where cheebitoik grew since termites heavily inhabited such areas.
8. Tebeng'wet- its leaves were used to drive away anthrax
9. Baregeiwot- the wood was used for making seegetyet, the small wooden spoon for cutting kimyeet
10. Arorwet-
11. Minjeiwet
12. Kosisiityet

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kalenjin birds

kalenjin birds

  10:35    Tabutany ak Cheplangat

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1. Chep-Orkoiyoot, a playful bird in the evening. as the name suggests, it could have been a member of the queen's family

2. Chepisweet, Kipisweet-the Rare Bird that can fly for 6 months without touching down.
Chebisweet, Chepkisweet or Kipisweet( Swift) one of the rarest birds in our locality whose blood could be of extraterrestrial origin. Chebisweet which the Kalenjin of olden times used to their blood for boosting their “running gene” by cutting their skins and splashing the blood of this bird

3.Sororiet bird in Kipsigis or Swarariet in Sabaot/Sebei a word that is not found in the other Kalenjin groups. They will wrongly refer this bird as cheptugeet.

4. Pang’ang’et or Ang’ang’eet (The Hornbill) is one of the few birds that the male has the responsibility of feeding the female ones in the nest till the young ones are strong to leave the nest. During the time to leave the nest, the horn-bills hold special graduation ceremony where many hornbills come to inspect the young ones ready to see the outside world. If the female is found emaciated the male ataona maat ab araap Belaat. It is beaten and chased away but if the female is well-fed, the other hornbills sing and praise the male.How I wish human beings were like them!

5. Masheleldet or masheleleet or namaqua dove in the pigeon family.as a youth I trapped all the birds,sometimes using gum from rerendeet plant but I never caught this little bird which likes shuttling along paths hence saying- igerte or kou masheleleet or chepkelembuut

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kalenjins livestock

kalenjins livestock

  10:05    Tabutany ak Cheplangat

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Amongst the Kalenjins livestock were named based on size, color, and character.

1. Chesitien- colour with white spots}
2.  Samoi - has 2 different colours}
3.  Tilito- {white tail/ erect ears}
4. Chemarus- {black cow} 
5. Karoi - {hornless},
6. Cheseger - {face spoted cow}, 
7. Chenwach - {short cow}
8. Kipkuino - {large horned cow} 
9. Birir met  - {Red head}
10. Olbas - {tall oxen}, 
11. Tuiyai - {black cow}
12.  Kiplege - {cow with several colours} 
13. Tenkerich - {short cow}
14.  lelgiana - {white udder}
15. cheboi - {redish cow}
16. Bois - {redish bull}
17. chemugen - {white spottd bull}
18. Tilegat - {white spotted cow}
19. simatian - {greyish cow}
20. chemaluk - {productive cow}
21. chelosgei - {arrogant cow}

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Names of personalities based on social roles amongst Kalenjins

Names of personalities based on social roles amongst Kalenjins

  09:52    Tabutany ak Cheplangat

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Names of personalities based on social roles amongst Kalenjins

1. Kipsarurinik- Judges
2. Kiruogik - chiefs
3. Chemosian - girl circumcisor
4. Boiyondet - male circumcisor
5. Chepkutiat - soloist
6. Tienindet - singer
7. Meiwot - worker
8. Kimonjororiat - prisoner
9. Kipsogorindet - spy
10. Bunotiot- alien person
11. Motellin - expert
12. Ngomut - traditional brain surgeon
13. Kipkoroisi/ngetet - uncircumcised boy
14. Boiyotab komta/kibisho-initiation chief priest
    

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Parts of A Typical Kipsigis Homestead

Parts of A Typical Kipsigis Homestead

  09:46    Tabutany ak Cheplangat

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Parts of A Typical Kipsigis Homestead/Compound

Kipsigis Homestead

Outside
1. Kook-sitting place for men
2. Mabwai- the altar must be on the eastern side of the main house as it is a sacred place.
3 Kaapmetet- sitting place for women and in most cases to the western side. women do their stuff there.
4. Piutab tuga/apathetic-cattle enclosure
5. Kaapmoen- calves enclosure
6. Kaaptich/singiroino- hut for men built inside or adjacent to cattle enclosure for security reasons
7 Kapmosoop/mosoop- main house for parents
8 Choogo/chooget- granary

Inside

1.Olmarich/mogoto- gate although they are not the same. In the main house (kamosop) we have,
2. Kurgat/musereita- door. (musereita was made from muserech tree.)
3. Inchoor/nchoor- sitting room
4Tootet/suum- bedroom literally
5. Itook- bed
6. Koima/koitab ma-fireplace
7. kipeelkonyan- space between fireplace and wall. women keep cooking stuff.
8. Saanet/saana- place for keeping utensils and it hangs from the root
9 Kapsotoon- place for keeping calabashes
10. Taboot/tabuut- ceiling

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KIMAKATA NEKIRUIYO AK KWONDAP CHI AKWO KOMWACHI KOWACHI CHITANYIN EN ORET KOMANAI.

KIMAKATA NEKIRUIYO AK KWONDAP CHI AKWO KOMWACHI KOWACHI CHITANYIN EN ORET KOMANAI.

  13:18    Tabutany ak Cheplangat

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KIMAKATA NEKIRUIYO AK KWONDAP CHI AKWO KOMWACHI KOWACHI CHITANYIN EN ORET KOMANAI.

Kien keny ko kibendi boisiek koyagaati tich anan tuga agoi oleloo. Kimuchi kwo boiyon tich arawek lo (6) komaweek 
gaa. 
Kitun kwo baiyon age kou non amonyo gaa arowek lo. 
Kotun ko kimi chi ne kialote makataik kwo koit kotab boiyondonoton, ak koteb ingo mi makataik chekioldo. 
Kitaach chepyoset nebo kot chichoton ak kokaikai inendet koru kemounoton amu kimakonegit boyotab kot. 
Kiruiyo anyun ak kobaibaige tuan kemounoton agoi koech. 
kingokakoech Kobai anyun chepyosonatokimakata ak mayainik ak Korotyi makataik chechang ak ketesyi alak amuboisiet neo nekiyai kemo koech. 
Kiwa kimakata ak makataikyik ak kingo ka ko looit konyor boiyon 
nekibure en urwet. 
Kiikat boiyondonoto kimakata, ak koteben kolenji iyobu oletian. 
Kiwol kimakata kolenji nan atebote en ngwony yu asi amwoun komie, ng'alek. 
Kile kimakata, kwonyoru chepyosa ne kibar munyas ako kwochob chepyosanato kemoi koech. 
Kiing'werechi kimakata koyooto ak kityo kokatgei bichoto ak komwachigei saisere. 
Kiwo boyot agoi konyin, kotoroch chepyosenyin inendet ak kolenchi oiye kiilooitu en gaa. 
kingoit kemoi koruiyo boiyot ak chepyosenyin. 
kiruosto boiyot chepyosenyi, kityo koteeben boiyot kwondanyiin kolenji, lenen nee kiing'ung o chepyosani? Kole chepyoset, ne chu imwae, le makase. Kochobochob boyot kwondanyin, ak kolenji ebiit o. 
kole chepyoset ole magase kit ne mwae. 
Kolenji boiyot amwaun kit ne mwae? kole chepyoset, mwawan. 
Kole boiyot, lenen - ka****an chitab makataik, kakumon chitab makataik......
Kolenji chepyoset boiyondenyin, kong'eten iwe komami chi ne kinyo koi! kikaron komwachinote chepyoset, kwonyik alak kolenjin makichorto kii, nae boisiek... ng'omen kot mising!

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MAKIKEN AK MAKING'AL

MAKIKEN AK MAKING'AL

  13:09    Tabutany ak Cheplangat

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Makiken ak making'al: Ki en  keny ko kimi bik aeng' cheking'omotik. Kikikuren makiken ak making'al.  Kiwo
makiken kotab making'al ak konyor koeenye artet. Kikanamen moeet koeny ako kinekit kotwoisi, Kolenji Makiken ubwa ne chu kaiyai? Makiyenye artet kounon, kolenji kinomunen rotet. Koyai making'al kou ye kakimwochi, kowechok makatet komong' aengu. Kotun kwo making'al, konyor makiken kochobe sotet ne lel. Kolenji amo iweech sotoni kan, kitilunen ng'wony. Koyai kou non kobundo sotet. Kokergeit ng'alset.

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Masheleldet or masheleleet or namaqua dove in the pigeon family

Masheleldet or masheleleet or namaqua dove in the pigeon family

  12:53    Tabutany ak Cheplangat

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Masheleldet or masheleleet or namaqua dove in the pigeon family. As a youth I trapped all the birds,sometimes using gum from rerendeet plant but I never caught this little bird which likes shuttling along paths hence saying--- igerte or kou masheleleet.

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