Eldoret: the Future Los Angeles of Kenya?

eCentury Reporter
Eldoret is indeed the economic, political, social and cultural epicentre of the North Rift. It is the only town in Rift Valley province with an international airport; was the second town after Nairobi to have a state university-Moi University in1984.

It was also the only town after Nairobi to have a national referral hospital. The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital has enhanced the status of Eldoret in every way. It serves Nyanza, Western, Uganda and Sudan. One of the notable surgeries ever performed in Kenya was done at this facility. The surgery involved rare breast growth abnormality and was performed by a team of surgeons from Kenya and Egypt led by Dr Philip Parklea in 2001.

The Eldoret International Airport is yet another facility that has made Eldoret a city in the making. Given proper support Eldoret International Airport may in the long run make the town the Frankfurt of Kenya. The airport was envisioned to spur tourism and horticulture in North Rift and Western Kenya.

A local Kalenjin prophecy attributed to a Nandi prophet known as Mong’o had predicted in pre-colonial era about Ntaboi nemi Kapseret meaning the mystery of Kapseret. The mystery is now believed to be the Eldoret International Airport. The presence of the international airport is a fulfilment of a prophecy by a Nandi seer.
Eldoret is emerging as an intellectual capital development centre. Other universities apart from Moi have pitched tent in Eldoret. The include Mt.Kenya University, Kabarak University, Baraton and Catholic University of East Africa on Eldoret-Kisumu road. Middle colleges too are taking the town by storm. They include International African College, Danian, Elgonview College, and Alphax along Eldoret-Iten road.

The Central Business District of Eldoret is slowly becoming educational centre. The tall buildings are housing colleges and universities. Kiptagich house for example has Moi University and Eldoret Aviation College.

Among the tallest buildings are KVDA Plaza, White Castle, and Kiptagich.
Eldoret emerged naturally as caravan post for explorers in pre-colonial era. Most explorers to Uganda passed through Eldoret. It is thus a town which is a central nervous system for Kenya and neighbouring countries.

Major roads from other parts of the country and other nations converge in Eldoret. Eldoret also forms a natural economic triangle connecting Western and Nyanza provinces. It is brings regions and communities together.

Eldoret is the district headquarters of the greater Uasin Gishu districts; it is a commercial centre for a huge economic block. Other towns which depend on Eldoret are Kitale, Kapenguria, Kapsowar, Kapsabet and Iten.

Eldoret was founded by white settlers particularly the Boers or Afrikaans who first settled in Uasin Gishu district in 1908. Boer families numbering about 58 trekked to Eldoret from Nakuru followed by 60 others in 1911 from South Africa.

Eldoret was established as a colonial administrative centre in 1910.Before then it was called Farm 64. The town then was sixty four miles from Londiani, the nearest railway station. The Nandi community called it Sisibo. Eldoret comes from a Maa word “Endore” meaning a stony river. The white community coined the name Eldoret-a corruption of Endore.

The stony river is Sosiani, a river which dissects the town into two. Eldoret was first occupied by the Sirikwa, then by the Maasai and lastly by the Nandi.
Presently the population of the town is between 200,000 to 300,000. It is 2100m above the sea level.

The history of Eldoret is interesting. The railway line reached the town in 1924, and four years later the town was supplied with piped water from Sosiani river. In 1938 the town was connected to an electric generator by the East African Power Lighting CO.

Entrepreneurs are doing Eldoret proud. Athletes and other investors are investing their fortunes in the town. Ultramodern hotels and restaurants are emerging for example Red Bean, Sirikwa Hotel, Poa place, White Castle, and Wagon Wheel among others.

Eldoret has had her share of challenges, the latest and the most remembered was the post election violence. Eldoret’s suburbs like Langas, Kimumu, Maili Nne and Munyaka were devastated. Mansions and business malls were reduced to rubbles. Eldoret was the epicentre of the political upheaval that the country witnessed.

Eldoreans however have risen again with tools of peace and development. Colleges, schools and businesses are more vibrant than ever before. Eldoret is a town with high return for investment. Small businesses thrive to medium and then large-scale within no time.

Investors today include Kenyans in Diaspora: US, UK and other parts of the world. Eldoret is a hub of a huge market-Nandi, Uasin Gishu and Trans-Nzoia districts with over 3 million people. There is also a huge potential from neighbouring districts such as Keiyo, Marakwet, Baringo, Pokot and Turkana who have a population of over 2 million, making Eldoret the future San Francisco or Los Angeles of Kenya.

Famous athletes like Dr. Keino, Moses Kiptanui among others have invested massively in real estate. Kiptanui’s Komora House is a land mark demonstrating the power of professional athletics. It is an icon and a symbol for every upcoming athlete. With Kipchoge High School recently launched by International Olympic Committee president, the school will soon churn out top-class sports gurus.