A section of the picturesque Tiaty Hills in East Baringo. [Photo/ baringo.go.ke]
It is early in the morning. The shy rays of the sun light up the Eastern skies of this holy mountain revealing the masculine, rugged terrain of the Tugen hills.
Tiaty hills tower stoically above the Eastern horizon revealing an intricate pattern of a beautifully arranged terrain. God must have had enough time when he created this part of the 'kontry' as my Nigerian brothers would put it.
On a clear-sky morning, one may be lucky to see the crystal,shiny peak of Kerinyaga- the seat of Murungu-lighting up the Eastern skies.
As the sun emerges, its red-hot ball splashes the hills with colour giving it a seductively romantic aura.
East Pokot wakes up to live. The wandering herdsmen wake up to a cacophony of activities in readiness for the day.
The mooing of calves who have missed their mothers coupled with the incessant bleating of goats create a mad opera.This is punctuated by the shrill cry of kids demanding sweet milk preserved in 'mugon'- the traditional gourds.
The beauty of the hills is juxtaposed with the harshness of the terrain as the sun emerges from its hiding place behind the hills. Its rays will sting the skin like disturbed hornets.
The Pokot herdsmen are notorious rustlers. Neighbouring communities like the Marakwets, Tugen, Samburu and the Turkana often bear the brunt of this age-old retrogressive practice. Not even the imposing ruggedness of the Kamasia hills can deter the swift rustlers who know the contours of the terrain even under the blindfold.
Security forces often find themselves outfoxed in this punitive terrain.
To the East of Tiaty hills lies the 'Valley of Death' as Suguta valley has come to be known. It is here that a number of our security forces found themselves in a murderous trap of armed tribal militia in the recent past.The orgies and massacre that followed shook the nation. Tens of our servicemen lost their lives in a scene reminiscent of the Greek-Persian battlefield.
This is contrasted with the calm of Lake Baringo and the rapturous Bogoria geysers. It is awe-inspiring to watch a fleet of flamingoes make a beautiful fly-pass parade in the skies of Bogoria.
Tiaty hills will always put joy in the heart of any keen watcher.