Koitalel Arap Samoei was born in 1860 and died in October 19, 1905 after he was shot dead by British colonial police. He was an Orkoiyot, the supreme chief of the Nandi people of Kenya, who led the Nandi rebellion against the British colonial rule.


An Orkoiyot is the supreme chief of the Nandi people of Kenya. As the Nandi have a dual administrative system, the Orkoiyot is the chief spiritual leader and also has the authority to make decisions regarding security, involving the waging of war.

Orkoiyot does not manage the affairs of everyday life, which are handled by the Kiruogik, who are the representatives of the people. The office of Orkoiyot is hereditary, and members are drawn from a warrior class believed to be of Maasai origin.


The Orkoiyot or Orkoik (in plural) were only drawn from the Talai clan. Talai clan is believed to be used by Asis (God) to deliver message to the people. Koitalel Arap Samoei himself was a Talai. Talai is one of the clans of the Nandi whose totem is represented by the Lion Ng'etundo.

Talai clan is still the present Orkoik of the entire Kalenjin Community. They work hand in hand with Kobil clan who are sought to curse the enemies who invade the community and cause havoc to the innocent community.

Koitalel Arap Samoei followed his father Kimnyole as the Orkoiyot and was enthroned in 1885. When British colonials began building the Uganda Railway through the Nandi area, he led an eleven-year resistance movement against the railway.

On October 19, 1905, he was invited by British Col. Richard Meinertzhagen under the guise of negotiating a truce, and was instead murdered along with his companions.


The Orkoiyot (seer) Koitalel arap Samoei of the Nandi prophesied that a black snake (the Kenya-Uganda railway) that spit fire would wind its way past Nandi land and disrupt people’s lives. Koitalel led the Nandi in an eleven year resistance against the British construction of the railway.

In 1905 he was invited by British Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen under the pretense of negotiating a truce. He and his companions were murdered at the meeting.

Koitalel’s son Barsirian arap Manyei was detained by the British in 1922 and wasn’t released until 1964 — making him the longest serving political prisoner in Kenya.

 

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