Village Elder Wisdom

Preface. The past has way of reminding us of our inadequacies other than our accomplishments, it has a way of reminding us the pain other than joy. Quite often when I feel down trodden I close my little house in the savannah, put off my phone and grab a book, a published and a life speaking one, not romance or fiction. For the past two years I have found solace in books to disconnect with the mind. And I am a testimony of surviving depression, self pity, hopelessness and in the extreme suicidal thoughts. One of the lessons I have and continue learning from 'The Power of Now' by ECKHART TOLLE is that you should disconnect with the mind, you are not the mind; listen to the mind and once you are free from the mind, you can observe and listen to the mind as a third party. Its called consciousness. Ask someone who has ever been in an emergency situation, they will tell you this is true. Or read the whole book. Though I will continue being the pieces with some of my life story. If yo...

I was barely the age of looking after calves when I joined Oletukat Primary school 33 years ago, in fact there was no this current CBC then. I was an active member of 'Village under the tree Kids Bible School'; it happened every afternoon after school, Five days a week of the normal working and school going days. It never happened on Sundays for boys because we went to look after calves. Pastor Isaac was that Pastor of those times before prosperity gospel;  his teachings were squarely based on giving life to Christ, repentance, rapture and the end of the world.Those pastors who were more than headmasters that if wrong, especially licking sugar when send to the shop,your mom threatens to go tell him or you sleep hungry. I chose to sleep hungry even if it's noon. One evening the teaching was on rapture. Daktari Peter, Pastor Sam, Corporal Julius(These are their current title- I have hidden half identity) and other age mates sat down silently and in a pensive mood listenin...

Narok, a county rich theoretically but poor in actual sense, not poor because we lack resources but because we elect bad political prefects. And here is my two cent. I want to make my worries in public because maybe there is someone we share the worries. I have posted my mind pieces on my face book wall consistently and what I get are insults and threats in my inbox but the truth remains this County is in and going to the wrong hands. Our people have thrown the pride through the window; that we dont 'eat' the stomach from both ends. People have become voting objects other than what democracy dictates.; that your vote is your voice. Our youth have become keyboard warriors and guns for hire. Like they went to school to get degrees in insults and have now become qualified character assassins. Most of them are quack bloggers and PR agents hired to by politicians to trend their interests, propaganda and white lies on social media. We are living in a community that literally ...

When I was growing up, our village was so knit, talk of a 100 households in the same place in a circle. I normally get a nostalgic attack when I remember the communal porridge drinking sprees. The mothers will contribute flour and milk then all the children get served from the same location. We grazed the livestock together in the plains and so that was the life! Then we grew up to adolescents then to junior youths which was the most exciting segment of our milestone; dating was communal, a girl belonged to the closest boy and we always competed to remain close to the chick's heart. So you maximized on your turn to smear mud with malicious words on your most feared competitor. If your girl's parents are harsh you need to agree what she will put on top of their Manyatta to symbolize presence of either parent or both.  Mostly for the mum it's a cup and a pot for the dad. If you ever agree to meet out of the homestead,you identify a tree or a rock and time.  It was tricky ...

Saturday morning, the news of the shootings of two young, unarmed evangelists in a prayer session by KWS Rangers shook Narok and Kajiado Counties. Ole Lenkume and Ole Taki were praying and fasting in the forest when the KWS Rangers opened fire and killed them instantly in pretext that they were poachers. The matter was reported and several people recorded statements with the police at Ntulele. Kajiado West MP, Hon. Sakuda assured of justice for the victims. The area Member of County Assembly and the community has given the Government a seven days ultimatum to arrest the Rangers or else they will kill all elephants and alluded that no KWS Ranger will ever step on Mosiro again.The Government is yet to respond to the community's ultimatum. This comes at a time when the maasai community in both Kajiado and Narok Counties grapples with rising cases of police torture, human rights violations and impunity in the police force. KWS Rangers has a history of prejudicial and extra judicia...

The man who lured and repeatedly raped the 13 years old girl on the evening of Thursday 2nd April,was yesterday arraigned in court amidst anger from the public and relatives of the young girl. He was however remanded in custody till the Narok Resident Magistrate is able to establish if the current act on the rights of the accused persons and bail could release him on bond or not. He will appear before the court on 10th April 2015. George Gikamae, is known by many as a serial rapist. He is part time a student at Maasai Mara university and part time a bodaboda operator. He is accused of luring to his house and repeatedly raped a 13 years secondary school girl whose name we can not disclose because she is a minor. Luckily, he was apprehended by neighbours and taken to the Narok Police station where he spent his Easter holiday. What is more worrying is that this man confessed to be a serial rapist and he confirmed to the girl that he is not near to achieving his target on the number of...

The tallying process was so uncertain, unpredictable and disturbing that most people shook and started doubting its credibility. This actually applied to both parties. The final announcement came as a relief to all in equal measure but more to ODM who waited in abated breath for the win. However, this is not a win for ODM, it is a maasai nation win, and a lose to the President, his cronies in maasailand and URP. This win is a sign that the Maasai political landscape is shaping, I believe to the better. It has redeemed the dignity that comes with being politically united with and for a purpose. The people of Kajiado spoke on behalf of the Maasai; they simply made a verdict that it is and it will never be business as usual. The Maasai community for a long time have been in the receiving end in national politics; getting into the arena as foster children not marriage partners. In traditional African societies, foster, orphaned and or adopted children do not enjoy equal privileges ...

A story from a villager's eye. A memorable encounter with the fastest, strangest people and thugs of Nairobi. I was seated on a bench overlooking that drum shaped hotel (what is it called?) Mmmmh... Hilton! waiting for my friend  Daniel Mwangi   who invited me to the city. I interacted with my Motorola C113 till it finished fire. Then some 'good samaritan' came sat very next to me and he showed me a 'brand new'flap Nokia mobile that was so   appealing to the eye of someone who never owned a better phone than a Motorola C series. ''1000 Kshs and you add me your phone''. he said and I could not believe my ears. I quickly removed my simcard and handed my phone and Shs. 1000 to him. Like lighting in the horizon, he disappeared into the fast moving Nairobi crowd. Back to my newest 'phone', I opened the back door and to my dismay, its full of ugali. I jumped so high that the lady seated next to me screamed as if I have snatched her handbag. I ig...

Very disturbing scenes; Desperate faces, hungry children, worried men and women are described by these pictures. The Tanzanian government through TANAPA has forced thousands of indigenous Tanzanian maasais out of their ancestral land, confiscated their livestock and burnt their homes.Information available to Kenyans and the world is scanty. Contact people in the ground are scared due to intimidation.However, the human rights violation on this people is loud,so apparent that silence is the least thing human rights groups and the Indigenous People organizations can do. The agreement that was signed in 1959 between the colonial government and the Maasai that saw the establishment of the Serengeti National Park clearly states that "the maasai will never face any possible eviction" why unleash such barbaric acts on a community known to be environment friendly,coexist harmonious and peacefully with wildlife over and above being a heritage envied the world over. Of importance to...

Miss Tourism Kenya finals is happening soon; Stephanie Dikirr is the reigning Miss Tourism Narok County. Vote for her as many times as possible. Send NAROK COUNTY to 20417. We at FredKam Media wish Steph all the BEST.

Even after the Cabinet secretary for Internal Security issued a statement that no demonstration shall be held in Narok, the opposing side came into town in droves.The streets were painted red with people donning maasai shukas as early as 6.00am. Security presence was palpable with one chopper doing aerial surveillance over Narok Town for close to one hour.The government instructed that all government employees vacate their offices with immediate effect as at 8.00am this morning. The security personnel blocked all roads leading to government offices as early as 5am. The opposition leaders led by Senator Ntutu gave their speeches at exactly 12 noon a symbolic gesture of things to come. They gave the Narok County a 24 hours ultimatum to receive their Memorandum. However, their hopes of ever handing over the petition to the Governor himself were dashed when a group of youth tried to force their way into the county government offices provoking the police to fire live bullets and tear g...

Nashipakinoi Motivational Program is an orgaization formed by a team of 15 young Samburu and Maasai professional ladies who have a passion and desire to touch and change lives of rural and marginalized girls through education and mentorship in Narok, Kajiado, Samburu,Laikipia Counties and beyond. "A phone call at 6.30 a.m on a Saturday? Dancing on my mobile phone screen was the name of my friend Zippy. Oh my!, I remembered that I had to accompany them to their routine weekend motivational program carried by their organization- Nashipakinoi Motivational Program. The activity was conducted at Olgilai Primary School, Ololulunga in Narok County on 27th December 2014 in the most spectacular of ways. The day with the young ladies was full of fun and inspiration. Talking to over 200 hundred girls, 100 women, more than 20 boys and several men; the event was graced by both political and opinion leaders. Nashipakinoi team did what they do best; inform to inspire, they insisted on the need f...

I wrote this note on Semptember 24th 2011; interestingly it is so relevant to me now. I have focused on unnecessary things for so long, I made options to be priorities and priorities to be options,I dreamt indefinate dreams. I made sacrifices without worship and consequently my prayers and wishes went unanswered. I brought so much happiness and smiles on other people's lives forgetting I also have a life.I discovered so many talents for others forgetting that I got so much untapped gifts myself. I had so much to offer but I only gave a portion while there were many opportunities that presented themselves but I didnt realize that they were for my good. Every morning the sun rose with a new message of Hope but I never read and if I did, I did not understand while there were so many writings on the wall for me to read and make a judgement but I ignored thinking its the usual, the normal and the common but it was a clear indication of my naive and generous nature. I went to school th...

After his story was aired by a national television in the Republic of Kenya, and having read about him in other online news, a great urge grew in me to go interview this first Kenyan ‘God’ Jehovah Wanyonyi. This curiosity will kill some journalist some day! I thought this festive season is the best time as the ‘God’ might be on holiday of some sort. Our journey started from Narok via Kericho, Nandi Hills, Kipkaren, Mumias and our day ended in Bungoma County- Bungoma Town. We spend our night at Mama Nanjala’s place at St. Veronicah’s village. The weather in Bungoma was not good, it was stormy but for a pastoralist like me it is music to the ears. I asked Mama Nanjala where this Jehovah Wanyonyi resides; though she is a staunch catholic she gladly narrated the directions and issued us with warning on how to approach the shrine and how to behave in front of ‘God’. My photographer was apparently nervous but he had no option but to accompany me to the shrine and do his assigned job, takin...

Christmas in my village was catastrophic and spectacular. This is a time for merry making as if the day brought a new lease of life. We the village,boys felt christmas eve was the night to easily access that girl, the ice of your heart, the night to let loose all guarded village princesses, the night for all bad boys to roam freely even to those homes dubbed boys no-go zone. In my village christmas is always longed for, it was the day to have chapati which rarely came by any other day of the year. The church goers, worshippers came nearer if not closer to God with supplication and thanks giving. This is a season where girls are 'holy' because Jesus Christ that son of Mary will be born in their hearts, so 'dooro'**(nightroaming in search of girls) is so deemed sinful. We village boys used to bet for the D-day, who will go herding and who will remain home to eat as much as he wants. One Christmas I lost the bet and the nine hours herding was like ages; I looked for...

Miss Marley Sianto comes in as the second Miss Tourism Narok County after Debra Sainapei. During the Miss Tourism Kenya finals she was crowned Miss Unity Kenya for her exemplary performance of being a unifying factor in the house during the run to the finals. The 9th edition of the Miss Tourism World(The Home of Tourism Through Beauty)that was held in LIDOTEL Boutique,Barquisimeto Venezuela, Miss Tourism-Africa goes to one of our own, the elegant, soft spoken, beautiful Marley Sianto. This comes as an achievement not only to Sianto, her family, Narok and Kenya but to Africa and the world by extension. Sianto hails from the indigenous maasai community known for preserving its rich culture and great friends to wildlife and environment. She will bring in wealth of cultural knowledge to the world arena. We wish the new Miss Tourism-Africa all the best in her endeavours. Marley, we are proud of you!

FredKam Media caught up with one of the Miss Tourism finalists badge number (3). I met Sanaipei at Dreamking Restaurant in Narok, and asked her for a one to one interview; she gladly accepted and here are some of the responses to my five key questions. Carol Sanaipei Torome, is a 20 years old second year Criminology student at Maasai Mara University. She aspires to be a criminal lawyer. She is a niece to the K24 Sports Anchor Torome Tirkie popularly known as T.T who is also her role model. She believes everything is possible following the steps of T.T. Despite being beautiful, Sanaipei believes she is intelligent and I believe so too; the 30 minutes chat proved so. She is inspired by Sarah Hassan (Tanya),affirming that Tanya is intelligent, pretty and not self centred. Sanaipei has met Tanya in person and she was swept off her feet by the charisma she carries along. Sanaipei was so anxious about the final announcement during the Miss Tourism event. The moment of her lifetime, she wa...