It is now about 113 years since Nandi legend, Orkoiyo Koitalel arap Samoei was killed by British Col. Richard Meinertzhagen.
Koitalel, who has been identified as a national hero, was killed on Thursday, October 19, 1905, during a peace truce after leading a rebellion against colonial invasion on Nandi land.
History books indicate that the British colonel used the truce invitation to lure the Nandi leader for the fatal ambush.
Koitalel arap Samoei born in 1850 at Samitui in Aldai was the fourth and last-born son of Kipnyole arap Turgat, a great Nandi prophet.
According to a publication of October 19, 2013, by a local daily, after the death of Kipnyole, the Nandi community sent for Samoei who had already taken refuge among the Keiyo community. Samoei started a war against the British who were constructing the Kenya-Uganda Railway.
“The Nandi people were autonomous hence saw their region as sovereign. Any unwarranted trespass was to be resisted strongly hence their resistance to the British for about 12 years,” records Kenya Year Book.
When the resistance became strong, the colonialists decided to call for mediation with the Nandi leaders for peace. Samoei suspected he would be killed as his father Kipnyole had predicted.
He instructed the British General to come with five companions and meet him at Ketbarak, the present day Nandi Bears club. Samoei was also to come with five foretellers. The peace meeting was at 11 am October 19, 1905.
Contrary to the agreement, Col Richard Meinertzhagen is reported to have marched from Nandi Fort (Kaptumo) with 80-armed soldiers with 75 hidden near the venue of the meeting.
It was at this point that Samoei was felled by Meinertzhagen at point blank as he stretched his hand for a handshake.
In his book, Kenya Diary (1902-1906), Meinertzhgen appears to regret the killing of Koitalel.
“... I, Richard Meinertzhagen, murdered Koitalel Samoei, the Nandi Orkoiyot (leader) on October 19, 1905," he wrote.
The Nandi leader’s symbolic grave was built at the Nandi Hills Town, where his headless body was found. It is believed the colonialists decapitated the body and took the head to London.
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