Kalenjins are part of Nilotes. They are Highland Nilotes. Some centuries ago, Sudan became a dispersal point of entire kalenjins and other Nilotes.
From generation to generation history has been handed down to the new generation by the elders. Some of these history are documented and others told orally handed down to generations. History is more than the path left by the past. It influences the present and can shape the future and Whoever doesn’t know history doesn’t know the past.
The Kalenjins have long history which claims that their origin was in Egypt. As they migrated southwards they entered Sudan. Sudan became a dispersal point. Sabaots were the last group to migrate. Some were left in Mbarara in Uganda and others went to Congo and named themselves as Abakōōnjo meaning “Koony” There are also some correlation between sabaot and some communities in Sudan. For example “Kēēt in Sudan and Kēētit in sabaot” is used to mean the “tree” to both.
As other Sabaots moved towards Southwestwards some few moved towards Ethiopia and others later settled eastward in Somali land. The old Kmarat settled in Somali land around mountain which was later named after him as Mt Kmarat (Morot). Even today there are words in Somali which was adopted from them for example “Bokol” which means 100 is used in both Somali and Kalenjin. Kmarat settled in Somali and he had vast wealth, he occupied large territory which was suitable for his cattle grazing. Kmarat had few children. Some of the children died due to adverse weather condition and inter clan wars that existed in Somalia.
At around 1400’s there was a great inter clan war in Somali land. Because of small population, those other kalenjin speaking groups had to move from Somali to meet their brothers in Rift Valley. Pcheromēēk clan of Kipsigis whose origin is traced to Oromo of Somali was the first to move and later settled in kipsigis up-to-date.
The inter clan conflict became extreme. Kmarat became casualty and he lost his wealth and some children. He was only left with two children Kamarāāt and Chepkēēch who was also known as Pkorāāt
Because he had become of age and he had fear that the entire family could be wiped out by war he instructed his wife and the two children to go to a place called Kōōny where his brothers who used southwest route had settled. He did this to safe his genealogy for future posterity. He felt bitter to have lost his wealth and territory. The old kmarat cursed the whole of Somali saying “there will never be peace till they are allowed back their homeland” up-to-date Somalia has never known peace!
Since kmarat was gifted with ability to foresee events, he taught his two sons life tricks, tactics and how to survive in life. He then handed over the blessing and “HERB RESOURCES” to his elder son before they set off for long journey. He instructed the wife on the route to follow and reminded the elder son to guide them through, “you will be accorded respect wherever you will settle” kmarat told his elder son Kamarāāt.
They traveled a long journey by foot which took them several years to Kōōny present day Mt. Elgon. They passed through samburu down to maasai land crisscrossed the Nandi hills before reaching Bong’om ( Bungoma).
Chepkēēch(Pkorāāt) who was the last born of mzee Kmarat was the mother’s favorite son and kamarāāt the elder son was the kmarat’s(father’s) favorite son.
While in Bungoma they moved towards northern to a place called Maanja. Later moved to kimukung where they settled shortly in Chwerr present day Chwele. At Chwele they found an old Bukusu lonely man by the name NABUMBO who was very welcoming and had enough food and wealth.
Since the old man Mr NABUMBO was welcoming and had no issue with their stay, the woman found “COMFORT”. After staying there for about two years She was not willing again to move further. The younger son (Chepkēēch/Pkorāāt) who was Mama’s favorite son supported the idea of their mother to settle with them in Chwele.
The elder son Kamarāāt was restless of their stay in chwele. He left westwards to sōōmēēk land to Tuikut. Here he felt the warmth and comfort of home though he was a stranger. He found the group of people who spoke similar language like of his. Here he felt at home.
Sōōmēēk were very hardworking people. They were great farmers of sabaot subgroup. They used to grow millets and sorghum. For several seasons sōōmēēk had no good harvest due to attack by wild animals and diseases. Kamarāāt being a stranger in sōōmēēk land chose a hard role. He requested the locals that he be given the role to guard the farms at night against wild animals. Many knew this was the most dangerous and difficult work to do which he did with ease using the charms and tricks that he was given by his father. The following year Sōōmēēk recorded great harvest for three consecutive years.
