05:33 Tabutany ak Cheplangat
KIPSIGIS HISTORICAL LEADERS .
The Kipsigis country was divided into
three initially Sot in South ,Bureti in the middle and Belgut in the
North .Sot is derive from a hero of Kipsigis called Kipsot who was very
tactical warrior.Bureti was mainly inhabited by Kaburet or Cheboin clans
here derive its name from this clan, Bureti has been a centre of human
and ecological interactions in Kipsigis for many centuries, many of the
ideas and social practices in Kipsigis emanated from this area.Belgut
was mainly inhabited by Kapbalengut clan whose totem is warthog hence
its name but not from tea as claim by some.In most instances in Kipsigis
land name of places is mainly derive from heros,clans who inhabited or
common vegetation or trees.For example Chepalungu was inhabited by
Kapchepalungu other theory of origin of Chepalungu comes from its type
soil i.e emetab ngungunyat nelunguch and also place takes femine name
for example our motherland and not fatherland,Kericho was inhabited by
Kapkerichek,Chamogondany was inhabited by Kapchamogondek among
others.Kipsigis man is called Kipsigisindet and Kipsigis woman is called
Chepsigisindet
.History of Kipsigis dynamism has been greatly
shaped by various personalities during precolonial, colonial and post
colonial period. Kipchomber arap Koilegen, alias kiptoingeny kochichlem,
kibuigut Arap Singoe and Kipkirui chebochok Arap Boisio all were sons
of legendary Kipnyole Arap Turugat alias Simbolei of Talai clan rule the
Kipsigis land before colonial period and later strongly resisted
colonial invasion in Kipsigis land.During colonial period the following
colonial chiefs of various locations had a great impact on social
,economic and political development of Kipsigis country; Kiprandich
Cheborge Kipsang araap Tengecha of Kapchamogondek clan was the paramount
chief of Bureti location 3 ,Kipkones araap Baliach of Kapbecherek clan
was the chief of Longisa location 4, araap Kirui of Kapgugoek clan was
the chief of Sigor location 5, Ngulolu of Kapbecherek clan was the chief
of Chepalungu location 6 and Taptugen araap Kaplelach of Cheroigin clan
was the chief of Belgut location 1and 2 .The above big five colonial
chiefs contributed a lot to the modern Kipsigis country ,they too
encourage the spread of Christianity and formal education, there
children later contributed a lot to modern Kipsigis country where they
assume the various political positions;the big five members of
parliament were Hon. Moses Kiprono Keino of kipkelion east who later
became speaker of national assembly, Hon.Wesley Rono of Belgut, Hon
.araap Chumo of Bomet, Hon.Kimunai araap Soi of chepalungu and Hon.
Taita araap Towett of Bureti.The converts of the two missionary missions
namely ;African inland mission (A.I.M) currently called African inland
church (A.I.C) ,headed by Bwana Haron alias Bwana Fundi based on Litein
contributed significantly to formal education, spread of Christianity
and outlawing of female genital mutilation, they establish homes for
girls who were against female genital mutilation the girls later were
called Tibikab goita because they were living in modern stone house,
later this girls became the elite of the community because of being
pioneers of
formal education thus sets standards for community
wholistic transformation.The converts of A.I.M. namely Rev. Douglas
Mutai and Rev.Zablon Ruto made agreat significant role in spread of
Christianity.African Gospel church made a lot of contribution in
establishment of schools,mission hospitals and spread of Christianity,
the notable missionary was Fish and his wife, while there convert who
play a big role was Petero araap Ngetich among others.
