THE OCCUPY WALL STREET/99 PERCENT MOVEMENT

By John Cheruiyot
Cheruiyot96@gmail.com
The Kenyan media has failed to highlight a major event taking place in the western world.
It is interesting that our media has ignored a real event that is in real sense changing fundamentally the way the world is run.
Some movement began in New York in September 17th, it called itself occupy Wall Street/99% Movement.
The movement was inspired and triggered by the Tahrir Square protest which brought down Mubarak’s government in Egypt. The movement has since spread its tentacles to countless cities of America, Canada, UK, Australia and other countries of Europe.
The movement particularly in America is protesting against economic inequality where the economic and political power is vested on 1% of the population. The movement has protested against multinational corporations and banks whom they believe have become the real tools of oppression in America, Europe and the western world.
Indeed the Congress -the throne of America is portrayed as a puppet and a tool of the rich minority-the elite who sponsor political class in the elections. The movement is stripping naked capitalism which has no human face and feelings in its vision and mission. Secondly the movement is striping naked America as a democratic and progressive country.
The Occupy movement has moved from Occupy Wall Street to Occupy London...Orange County…Auckland…Denver…Vancouver...Wal-Mart...Washington DC etc. The occupation participants are the jobless, homeless and desperate Americans crying for economic equality and equity.
The movement is driven by the middle class using the internet and all manner of super highways.
“We the 99 Percent” are the first ever revolution in the youthful 21st Century. The fall of communism in the late 1980s led to the collapse of the Soviet Union one of the twin super powers of 20th Century.
It appears that capitalism like communism is becoming obsolete and totally impotent in this century. The mantra of privatization and globalization is being scrutinized and examined by the ordinary citizens who are wallowing in poverty and hopelessness.
While the western populace is occupying symbols and icons of western capitalism Kenyan workers were busy calling for strikes. It was the university dons, then doctors, Telkom workers and teachers.
As inflation bites after Central Bank raised interests from 6% to 16.6% Parliament and the Executive are fighting over the control of bank rates. While the parliament is trying to ceil the hyper bank rates the executive is moving to appease the banks by giving them blank cheques to raise interests at their whims.
The executive arm of government worldwide is a puppet of the rich 1% who are in real sense ruling the world. The presidents, the monarchs and prime ministers of the world are mere watch dogs of the big business.
The 1% is currently running UN, IMF and World Bank. They also control the civil society, the media and all the resources of the world. Kenyan banking is the most profitable business with the highest return on investment.
Banks are economic ticks with which the 1% milk the world’s poor dry.
Current economic scenario where the 99% are exploited, oppressed and dehumanized cannot go on forever.
All the governments of the world are servants of the 1%, they use the police and security apparatus to suppress and subdue the poor and the middle class.
The demolitions of Syokimau and the Maasai Manyatta where the police were sent to supervise the destruction of assets owned by the middle class are a proof that government is longer of the people, for the people and by the people. It is generally of the 1% for the 1% and by the 1%.Governments of the world are stooges and puppets of the rich.
Hence Occupy Wall Street & 99% Movement should spread to the third world nations where multination corporations are having heyday more particularly in Africa and specifically Kenya and South Africa where inequality is among the highest in the world.
The emergence of the Mungiki, the Sabaot Land Defence Force and the Mombasa Republican are symptoms and signs of how the 99% have been dehumanized through poverty and economic exploitation of the masses.
The truth of the matter is the world is currently brutalized by the invisible hand of imperialism, colonialism and fascism of the highest order.
In Kenya the 1% are in control of all the national resources. Every tribe is controlled by tribal elite-the 1%.The Kikuyu 99% are controlled by their 1% elite .The Kalenjin 99% are controlled by their 1% elite ,the Luhya 99% controlled by their 1%elite ,the Kamba 99% are controlled by their 1% elite ,the Luo 99% are controlled by their 1% elite ,the Kisii 99% are controlled by their 1% elite etc.
The 1% of every tribe are busy exploiting their people. The rich Kikuyu have no mercy on the Kikuyu hoi polloi and the same is true for all the 42 tribes of Kenya.
Democracy is dead throughout the world; that is the hardest bill to swallow. The political class no longer stand for the aspirations and interests of the electorate. Hence the world is headed for a revolution, governments and the ruling elite are losing credibility to rule unless they resort to tyranny and use of police and security machinery to subdue the people.

The Silent Victor

by Reuben Chelimo

You may not have heard of him, or even seen him on your screen during the Olympics or any major sporting event, but Edward Kimosop has been going places in his athletics career. At the age of 18, he narrowly missed to represent Kenya in the Olympics. Today, Kimosop is involved in various road races around the world, and has won various medals and prizes.

Kimosop hails from North Baringo, a second born in a family of 11. Listening to him speak from his Ngong apartment as he recounts his former days in school paints a picture of a man who has overcome various odds. “I used to burn charcoal to raise school fees”, he passionately remembers. In fact when he recently won various road races in Germany, Austria and Turkey, he vividly recalls what his family told him, “You are our breadwinner”.

His is a story too common with many athletes in Kenya, who have risen to become international stars from abject poverty and constant struggle.

He recounts one 7.5km race that he participated in Austria, “It was a difficult one in which we were ascending a steep and rugged terrain. I was gasping for breath, and the call to give up came too often, but I soldiered on. With about three kilometres remaining, I was not in the favourite 10. Then suddenly the terrain changed during the last 4 km and we started descending. I signalled to my fellow Kenyan athlete who was behind me, “it is fair up here, run!” And with that I accelerated and beat all the favourite contenders. It was a major victory, not only for me but for my sponsor, Paul Tergat who had paid for my ticket to Europe that season. I was highly published in Europe. I was also invited to participate again.

Charity Run
Kimosop is also involved in running for charity. He is affiliated to Vapor, an American organization that supports destitute children. Vapor, as from its literal meaning, is about life being as fleeting as vapour. It thus makes a claim to volunteering athletes to utilize their talent in supporting the less-fortunate in the society within the limited time that God has offered all mankind.
It is a noble cause, that of running and not expecting any pay, but deep inside, with a strong conviction that someone is benefiting from the exercise. That is what has made Kimosop who he is.

“Paul Tergat, the veteran athlete and world champion is my role model,” Kimosop asserts. “I do not know where I would be were it not for his overwhelming support.” From this interview, we were able to establish that Tergat supports more than 300 athletes to attain their dreams. He has helped many in securing sponsors, paying their airline tickets to participate in world events, supporting them with supplements and their general upkeep.

Ngong Area
Kimosop actively participates in training on a daily basis in Ngong. This area and its environs is the choice of many athletes for a training ground. The area offers high altitude, approximately 2,300m above sea level. It also offers ample space for running and also doing exercises after the races. The area started becoming popular from the 1990s when Paul Tergat and Ishmael Chelang’a came to settle and even marked various points where they would be using in their training. Other athletes followed suit and today, there are about 1000 of them who have settled here. Indeed even international athletes have showed interest in using the area to train, and which will offer them a chance to practice with the local athletes who are renowned globally.

According to Kimosop, as from October this year, athletes from various countries are expected to pitch camp in Ngong to train with the local athletes.

Kimosop is happily married to Benadine and they have two children.

Prof. Nzomo: Proposed Constitution Good for Kenyan Women

John Cheruiyot

A one day workshop held at a Kericho hotel recently brought together over forty women leaders from the greater Kericho districts. The delegates came from Kericho East, Kericho West, Chepalungu, Sotik, Bureti, Bomet and Kipkelion. The meeting was hosted by Rift Valley Rural Women Network founded by Dr.Esther Keino and was facilitated and sponsored by Centre for Multiparty Democracy. Among the facilitators was Prof.Maria Nzomo, one of the leading gender activists in Kenya on women rights.

The workshop’s theme was ‘Gains for women in the proposed constitution.’
Prof.Nzomo observed that she was not beating about the bush when it comes to women issues and their rights. That the proposed constitution has what we women right fighters fought for for decades. She further observed that women should not be worried about what men think on the constitution but on what the document says about their issues.
“We shall have no excuse at all as women if we let this opportunity of having a new constitution disappear into the thin air ,” she added.

She further noted that culture and traditions have been used to pin women down, that Wambui Otieno lost the case of her husband in the 1980s because culture overruled everything and that the proposed constitution will eradicate outdated and retrogressive traditions which have enslaved women for centuries. She also noted that “history of political parties is such that the youth, women, minorities and the disabled were marginalized. Political parties have been for decades been run on thuggish principles tilted to favour men against women. For instance, look at what happened to Prof. Julia Odhiambo in 2007 and after. It is time we assert ourselves as women. We have what it takes. We can stand as independent candidates during the elections. You can contest for presidency as an independent candidate. The days of the mighty party chairmen are gone. Only in the proposed constitution.” She added that in the proposed constitution women will be recognized and so will the youth, the disabled and the elderly.
She dismissed the issues of land, abortion and Kadhi courts as merely political propaganda.
She observed that the proposed Senate will have 16 women out of the 47. It will also have the youth and the disabled where gender will be considered.
She further observed, “Women should wake up and seize the opportunities before them. In the proposed national commissions women should stop being mere members or vice chairs but be at top positions in institutions such as the Kenya National Human Rights Commission.”

The women who attended the meeting shared very personal testimonies on how the existing constitution has oppressed women. Dr. Keino gave a classic example of her son born in the US 32 years ago who could not be granted Kenyan citizenship, because her Kenyan citizenship as a woman would not conferred to her son automatically. She noted that the proposed constitution will bring at par both men and women. Another participant gave her testimony that “when I was to go abroad for a seminar the law put it that I was to get the permission from my husband!”
Another lady revealed, “I am a single mother. I have children and I stay in my father’s land. My brothers are all entitled to my father’s land but I am excluded. The outdated traditions and culture ignored my existence. The proposed law gives me a voice.”

Another stated, “The reason why women find themselves in Tengecha or Koinage Street of Kericho is simple. They have no land, hence they are forced out into prostitution by retrogressive traditions and cultures.”
She further added that the reason why the political class are rejecting the proposed law is because it will tilt the equation of society towards justice and fair play.

A widow from Belgut narrated, “I have four daughters and no son. The brothers of my late husband have decided that I will not inherit my husband’s share of land because I did not give birth to a male child. It is that bad. We need a law for 21st century Kenya.”

One other participant observed, “We come from a NO zone. Wearing of a green T-Shirt or fronting the proposed constitution is criminal. People are scared . Those who supported a party other than ODM in 2007 had their houses torched. They were frog-matched and displayed in market centres as species of ridicule.”

Prof.Nzomo noted that after the repeal of section 2A in the early 1990s,the atmosphere throughout the country was hostile for all who opted for a party other than KANU. We were harassed, ridiculed and branded radicals. Today we have freedom of association. Those of you facing similar situation should know this-no scenario is permanent. The walls of intimidation and ridicule will fall before our eyes. ”

Prof. Maria Nzomo, Chelagat Mutai, Dr.Esther Keino and Ida Odinga were schoolmates in the late 1960s at Moi Girls Eldoret.Their revolutionary ideas thus have their roots in Rift Valley.

Egerton Graduate crusades for Alternative Farming

John Cheruiyot
Mr. Alex Njenga, 53 may not click or make sense to many Kenyans. He is however a Mahatma Gandhi of agriculture to Kenyans who listen to him on radio Inooro, Coro, Kameme and KBC (Mali Shambani and Sikio ya Mkulima). He is an icon and a guru driven by alternative ideas in modern agriculture. He is a moving encyclopaedia and an advocate of the latest ideas in crop and animal production. He is a speaker, trainer, facilitator, publisher and a writer. He has written over four books on the latest trends in agriculture. Like Mahatma Gandhi, Njenga puts on the attire of common people. You may mistake him for a peasant by his dressing.

He is also a director of Kenya Multipurpose Development Institute a firm committed to empowering Kenyans through training and transfer of alternative technologies.
The eCentury team visited him at his Ngong residence. On the veranda of his house were several bales of wheat straws used for mushroom production. His compound is a showcase of plots of strawberries, pumpkin plants, sweet potatoes-some from overseas, particularly from Asia and other local breeds. His intention is to multiply for distribution to the farmers. In his compound also were rabbits and poultry which were of pedigree quality and of a rare breed. His poultry for example were sourced from Israel and are being multiplied.

Near the veranda were a few jatropha plants (a bio-diesel plant) being propagated for distribution to farmers. Njenga trains particularly in ASAL regions.
In his living room were dried and powder mushrooms and pawns (mushroom seeds) used for teaching, training and demonstrations, others were the different types of sweet potatoes available in the country.

In his library were the books he authored. The workshops and training programs he is involved in include: bee keeping, mushroom production, fish farming, rabbit rearing, poultry management, herbal farming and green house technology.

Njenga is a graduate of Egerton University; he holds both a diploma and a degree in Agriculture from Egerton. He has over 30 years experience in professional agriculture. His passion and commitment is to train, empower, motivate and to make farmers innovative, prosperous and successful.

He observes, “Kenyans need to move from current farming of growing low value crops to high value crops like mushroom, strawberries, potatoes, pumpkin and vanilla. They also need to venture into fish farming, beekeeping, and dairy goat rearing. If Kenyans begin to use honey instead of sugar, chicken for red meat, mushroom and sweet potato for food they will become the healthiest people on the planet.”

Njenga pulled his calculator from the pocket and took eCentury writer step by step. He began with sweet potatoes.

He observed, “One eight of an acre of sweet potatoes takes 4,000 pieces which produces about 10 tubers each or 40,000 tubers. If a farmer takes six tubers from each piece to the market annually this translates to 24,000 tubers. If he makes heaps of four tubers it will translate to 6,000 heaps, he sells each heap for Ksh.20 this will amount to Ksh.120, 000 for an eight of an acre or Ksh. 960,000 for an acre. Isn’t this a good income for a small scale farmer? ” He asked.

“Sweet potatoes are not only food but medicinal. They control viral diseases. A potato weighing 800g cost less than 400g bread. The day Kenyans shift from bread to sweet potatoes for breakfast, they will not only save their hard earned cash but improve their health. ” He notes. “Sweet potatoes may be dried and made into flour which may be mixed with Amaranth to fight cancer and high blood pressure. The sweet potato flour may be mixed with mushroom flour to improve on quality and palatability.”

The next high value crop was strawberry. He said “An eight of acre of strawberry carries 5,000 pieces .Each piece of strawberry yields 2kg annually. Hence an eight produces 10,000 kilos. If each kilo goes for Ksh.400 this translates to 4million. An acre fetches Ksh.40 million! ”

On the mushroom farming Njenga observed, “This country imports mushrooms from China, India and South Africa. Five star hotels serve mushrooms soups from imported mushrooms. The demand for mushrooms in the country is greater than the supply. Hence mushroom farming is a gold mine. Besides the day Kenyans will themselves eat mushrooms this country will be great health wise. Popular mushroom are oyster and button. They are eaten directly. They are dried, ground for baking, porridge making and even in making of ugali”.

“Mushroom farming is a profitable enterprise” He noted.” It uses farm residues like wheat straws. One kilo of mushroom seeds (spawns) is grown on a bale of wheat straws. It takes one month for oyster to mature. A kilo of mushroom spawn produces 10 kg of mushroom. Each kilo of mushroom fetches Ksh.600 hence 10kg fetches 6000 in one month. To make good return, a minimum of 10 kg spawns are needed to make Ksh.60, 000. Mushroom farming is an indoor enterprise. Mud, grass houses and other simple structures may be used to grow mushrooms. ”

He added “The emerging trend in herbal industry is based on medicinal crops and herbs.” On pumpkin farming he had this to say “Pumpkin has medicinal qualities. Its seeds cure dysentery and supply plenty of zinc vital for sperm development in men. Its pulp is a dewormer, while the juice cures urinary complications.”
Indeed Alex Njenga is an agriculturalist, researcher and practical oriented scholar. He is simply an agricultural scholar for the masses. He is passionate for a people driven agriculture. His outreach programs through the media, workshops and demonstrations have won him both friends and foes.

“I was summoned by my superiors who felt I needed their approval before embarking on any move particularly in the media” He observed. He added “I told them what is wrong when I teach farmers through the media? How come I have not received any complain when I train in workshops and open air Barazas?”
“I told my superiors that my university chancellor gave me ‘the power to read and to do all which pertains to my degree. I teach farmers ideas proven by research. ”
Njenga is a professional needed in the 21st century Kenya. In his Kiambu farm he has fish ponds, rabbits, poultry, geese, ducks, dairy goats, turkeys, parrots and dwarf hens. He a type of expert needed in third world country like Kenya. According to Njenga diseases like diabetes, cancer, hypertension, skin disorders among other diseases would be history if crops with medicinal properties were promoted and Kenyans encouraged to shift to high value crops and animals.

Njenga talks to farmers on radio every Friday from 8:30-9:00 AM and every Tuesday from 8:30-9:00pm in Coro FM and on KBC radio every Monday from 8:30-9:00pm.

Ngong Field Day: Farming is a Business

By eCentury Reporter
It was a farmers’ field day like no other. Farmers from Matasia, Bulbul and Ngong as well as students from Oloolua Primary School and Baptist Calvary Academy and other stakeholders thronged Ngong Agricultural Training Centre for a successful field day. It was organized and sponsored by the Stakeholders Forum and Agricultural Training Centre.

The chief guest was North Kajiado DO1 Mr. Kaume Kashuru who was taken through the stands by Dorothy Mwaniki the principal of Ngong Agricultural Training Centre. The theme of the day was farming is a business.

Among the exhibitors were Kajiado North Ministry of Agriculture, the hosts Ngong Agricultural Training Centre, agro-manufacturers and service providers. They included Arysta Life Science [K] Ltd manufacturers of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides; NAWACOM Investment Cooperative Society Ltd, the manufacturer of Mazingira Organic Fertilizer, Irrico International Ltd, an irrigation and greenhouse ware provider, Farm Feeds manufacturers of livestock feeds. Others were financial institutions namely Equity Bank and Faulu.

The Ministry of Agriculture stand particularly the Home Economics section was a crowd puller. The juice, soap, jik, crisps and jiko-making, technologies appealed to many participants. Rachel Kwoma one of the specialists at the stand explained to the participants how bread and cakes are made using an energy-saving sawdust powered oven. She further revealed they train women groups on entrepreneurship; how to start and manage businesses.

The Ngong Agricultural Training Centre was the main attraction. Her horticultural farm was a master piece. The expansive horticultural farm teeming with healthy and well-tended vegetables, fruits and fodder offered a great opportunity for the farmers. Experts were available to explain to the farmers every aspect of horticulture. The training centre was a complete encyclopedia of practical agriculture. The participants practically were taken through every aspect of farming. From rabbit keeping, beekeeping, silkworm rearing, goat rearing to zero grazing.

The green house was thronged by many who wanted to learn every aspect of green house establishment.

Notable companies included Arysta Life Science the manufacturers of Kalach 480 SL, the latest non-selective systemic herbicide in the market. According to Martin Aubanton the Eastern Africa Technical and Marketing manager, Kalach is an effective herbicide for the control of grasses, sedges and broad-leaved weeds in tea, coffee, wheat and other crops. The other herbicide Sigma Combi a selective herbicide for maize was another herbicide by Arysta Science .

The other attraction was an organic fertilizer manufactured by Mazingira Cooperative Society of Nakuru. The fertilizer made from compost manure has nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. The fertilizer was developed through technical support from Egerton University with administrative and financial support from Practical East Africa. The fertilizer is said to increase crop production through mineralization of the soil and soil structure.

The field day offered a rare opportunity for farmers and other stakeholders to interact and share notes.

The ministry of agriculture showcased the latest dairy goat zero grazing structure where a small portion of an urban space may be utilized for dairy goat rearing. On appropriate technology was a case of a manual bale-maker within the purchasing power of small scale farmers. Kajiado being a drought prone area the idea of a manual bale maker was good news.

Everyone left the field day energized and booster to make farming a business enterprise like any business. That profit making be the guiding principle.

Ruling Class Taught a Lesson in Mugirango By-Election

John Cheruiyot
The South Mugirango by election result was stunning. It was a devastating defeat to the ruling class; who for a long time has underrated the intelligence of the masses. With the helicopters, their money, their limousines and other fuel guzzlers they did not sway the voters of South Mugirango to vote their way.

A divided PNU, ODM and KANU could not stand the verdict of the people.
Manson Nyamweya of FORD People won with 14,099 followed at a distance by Magara of PDP with 8885, then Ochoi of ODM at 7638 and Rashid Miyoga of PPK with 1,145. KANU did not feature at all.

When Magara defected from ODM to join little known PDP, political bigwigs swung to his side. He became an instant political darling of the connected and the moneyed. Top political gurus suspended their parties to support Magara. Uhuru Kenyatta left KANU to support Magara, likewise William Ruto left ODM to support Magara. The support for Magara was more of a protest against Raila. The YES and the NO contenders left their differences to support Magara. In the process the voice of the people, the voice and the conscience of the masses was ignored.

The political class displayed their glamour and splendour as they climbed the skies of South Mugirango with impunity. Manson Nyamweya kept telling the people: “It is you who will determine who goes to parliament not them.” He was right. It is the people and not the moneyed and the connected.

The win by Nyamweya may be dismissed as a mere by-election. It is a battle between the interests of the elite and those of the people. The real political landscape was crafted during the Mugirango by-election.

That leaders who remain faithful to the interests of the people and who are not stooges and puppets of the outsiders - it is they who prevail. Being associated to party heavyweights is longer an asset.

The party bigwigs focusing on the 2012 were at South Mugirango to show their prowess. The PNU and ODM supremacy was the centrepiece of the Mugirango by-election. Their agenda was defeated.

What this means is - Kenyan voters are independent and intelligent. They can courageously decide who becomes their leader.

Indeed it should be noted that the one party dictatorship was all about leaders who were planted from the apex. It was all about being connected to the power barons of the nation. The people were bought and swayed at will and whim. The top-down political structure was the order of the day. The bottom-up was apparently outlawed.
Indeed the bottom-up won in South Mugirango. In one way or another the ruling elite has run out of ideas. They have no ideas to turn around the economy. They have no vision to prosper the nation. They drive expensive limousines and ride first world copters in the fourth world economy. Their life styles are beyond the economy of the nation.

Being president and being a bigwig and a political heavyweight in a weak nation and a weak economy is what mesmerizes the ruling class.

Kenya needs a third force, a force of the people, a force fuelled by a vision to empower and prosper the people. Being president and being powerful and affluent in a poor economy does not make sense.

What Kenya today needs possibly is a national Manson Nyamweya, a leader who is driven more by the aspirations and the interest of the people. A leader whose vision is to serve and empower the people.

A leader who is ready to outlaw the use of helicopters and fuel guzzlers in a weak economy as ours. A leader who not after power and authority for personal glory. A leader who dares to innovate, invent and create new ideas and new options for the nation. A leader who is not craving for foreign aid and foreign neo-colonial favours. One who believes in the people and in the potential of the nation.
The 2012 is not about a change economically and technologically; it is about leaders queuing for privileges as the people sink into the abyss of poverty and penury.

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.