Thousands of members of the Marakwet community converged at Cheptobot Primary School in Cherang’any Constituency, Trans Nzoia County to celebrate their culture.
The colourful event brought together elders, professionals, women, youths and children from Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot Counties.
During the event, Mzee Charles Kibor was crowned the chairman of Marakwet Council of Elders taking over from Edward Lagat who now serves as the Secretary of Myoot Council of Elders Trans Nzoia chapter.
Kibor called on members of the community to uphold their unity, protect their environment, especially Cherang’any Hills Water Tower and store their food properly.
“Marakwets are good people; they protected their environment, were food secure throughout the year because they stored their harvest properly and fed on clean indigenous food that is why they never felt sick easily,” he said.
Deviated from good cultural practices
David Kimaiyo, Marakwet Council of elders’ patron said the event was organized to bring together members of the Nilotic community to remind them of their culture.
The former Inspector General of Police said the current generation has deviated from their good cultural practices hence there is a need to teach them through such activities.
“Since time immemorial, our culture forbids some acts we are seeing today like same-sex marriage. That was an abomination and its sentence was death,” Kimaiyo said.
Kibiwott Keino, one of the community professionals said the community has already set aside 12 acres of land where a cultural centre will be established. The cultural centre will have a library, a museum and an ICT hub where youths will be taught their culture. Some selected wild animals will also be found in the centre.
Gracing the event that was marked with cultural dances and feasting on traditional food.
Breakdown of social values
Elgeyo Marakwet County Woman Member of Parliament Caroline Ng’elechei said children should be taught good cultural practices so that they cannot be brainwashed by Western cultures.
Ng’elechei further said the increase in the number of single mothers in the country is attributed to the breakdown of social values in the society.
“It was not possible to see a single mother amongst our people because our men were taught to be responsible but nowadays, you will find several single mothers in the society because men have left their parental obligations,” said the County Woman MP.
In addition, Dr. Hellen Yego, one of the community professionals said children should be taught their first language as soon as they begin to learn.
“It is absurd that the majority if not all of our children nowadays do not know or even understand their first language. Language is the only tool you can use to communicate and therefore parents should take an active role in teaching their children their first language,” Yego appealed.
Similar sentiments were also echoed by other professionals including Kanda Tililei, Salina Cheruiyot and Kipkemoi Tarus who called for publishing of Marakwet’s rich culture so that it can be stored for future generations.
A host of other political leaders attended the ceremony among them Trans Nzoia County Senator Allan Chesang’, County Woman MP Lilian Siyoi, and Kiminini MP Kakai Bisau among others.
The event will henceforth held annually on October 10th.
