The Kalenjin community has been known to carry out their circumcision rite annually, however, this might not be the case this year.
The rite is linked to a flowering plant known by the local community as 'setiot' which is scientifically known as Mimulopsis solmsii Schweinf. It flowers every 7 to 8 years.
According to the beliefs of the community, the flowering of the plant is an indication that no circumcision rite should be carried out as the initiates or participants might die, become weak or even become abnormal forever.
The plant was spotted to have flowered earlier this year and this has seen most Kalenjin leaders holding discussions on whether the circumcision rite should be carried out or not.
Christians among the Kalenjin community, however, do not believe in any of these and do not support the fact that any bad omen could happen to the initiates.
"The same plant had flowered in 1970 but I witnessed initiates who underwent the same initiation rite and nothing happened to them. They are alive up to date and are as normal as anyone else. So as Christians, we are not bound to any of the said believes attached to the setiot plant and we encourage our people to carry on their lives as usual," one of the Christian leaders stated.
So are we seeing the community perform its circumcision rites this year or not, is the question that is still unanswered.
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