This archive report was first published on 20 October 2021.
On October 19, 1905, Koitalel Arap Samoei, a legendary leader of the Nandi community, was killed by the British colonial government during a peace truce after leading a rebellion against colonial invasion on Nandi land.
116 years later, thousands of Kenyans from all walks of life gathered at the Koitalel Samoei Mausoleum in Nandi Hills to commemorate his death.
The event started with the laying of wreaths at the graveyard, followed by prayers, entertainment, and the display of Koitalel's leadership batons, regalia, and other community artifacts kept in his shrine.
Leaders from the region, including Governor Jackson Mandago, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang, and Soy Member of Parliament Caleb Kositany, attended the event and renewed calls for justice for communities who were displaced from their ancestral land by the colonial government.
They called upon the national government to address the historical injustices meted out on the Talai clan and follow up a pending petition for compensation by the British Government.
MP Kositany regretted that after so many years since independence, the people of Talai community have never been compensated.
Speaking during the celebrations, Governor Mandago said, “If we truly want to progress as one Kenya and solve all the historical injustices, this is the time. Let’s begin sorting out the mess immediately and compensate the affected communities.”
