Eldoret is the largest town in North Rift region. Most people call it the 'Home of Champions' as it is home to many athletes that have raised high the flag of Kenya globally.
Currently, Eldoret is arguably the fastest growing towns in Kenya. Being the bureaucratic centre of Uasin Gishu makes it one of the most visited towns in that region.
However, do you know how this town acquired its name Eldoret? Well, this name was gotten from the Maasai people. The name Eldoret was derived from the Maasai word “eldore.” This name simply meant a stony river. Sosiani River had a stony river bed which the Maasai used to refer to the town near it.
In 1910, Eldoret town came into being as Farm 64 or Sisibo. This was much because the white settlers constructed a post office here which was 64 miles from Kibigori, their railhead for the Uganda Railways.
By then, the Farm 64 was owned by a white settler by the name Willy van Aardt. However, in 1912, the white settlers’ governor decided to build an administrative centre at this place.
He then renamed the post office from Farm 64 or Sisibo to Eldoret. Up to date, the only existing evidence of the white settlers is the Central Lounge in Eldoret.
#historynow