Underwear is not just a piece of cloth to some tribes. It is treated with a lot of respect. If you want to witness how this undergarment is regarded, then welcome to Kalenjin community. Kalenjins always observes their customs and cultural values a lot and when it comes to underclothes, they are ardent.
Kalenjins prohibits children from coming into contact with their parent's underwears, regardless of circumstances even if it is being rained on. This is viewed as respect to the parents. It is treated immoral if the child said panty in reference to the parent's inner clothing in front of them. The child is only allowed to refer to 'some clothes' when alerting the parent if it is being rained on or has fallen from the hanging line.
Jeptoet from Ziwa in Uasin Gishu county confirms that this special clothing is respected a lot and boys are exempted from touching woman's underwear especially those of close relatives.
"A boy child is not allowed in whatever scenario to touch women's undergarments since it is a taboo," she said.
Unlike residential estates in towns where tenants air their underwears where everyone could see, in the rural areas, it is not allowed. Women are warned against hanging their inner clothes where children can see as it is discomfiting.
Children also cannot share bathrooms with parents where panties have been hanged.
A trader at the area says that the Kalejins feel ashamed when buying these underclothes. They use various secretive means to buy so as not to be seen.
"Some cannot totally buy when other customers are around. Some use terms that cannot be understood by children such as saying 'small clothes'," said Cheruiyot.
Society today especially those in the urban setting has seen women going to an extent of leaving their underwears for the house helps or children to wash. They have broken the norms and values. Boys and girls are seen nowadays having underwears popping out on their waists. The Kalenjin culture does not condone such behaviors.