Here is the best place to be

If you need peace and tranquility complete with serenity and the marvels of Mother Nature, then you should consider visiting Ikonge-a small Centre at the border between Nyamira North and Bureti districts.

But for some of its rusty old fashioned buildings, Ikonge has a lot to offer in terms of beautiful scenery which brings out the aesthetics of Mother Nature. When at the Centre of the town, one is treated to an endless stretch of greenery which creates the impression of a football pitch only seen in television. This is nothing other than the tea estates that lie astride Nyamira North and Bureti districts. During the colonial era, the estates were owned by the Europeans who depended on the locals for labor. The estates explain the presence of unique names that resemble English names. Names such as Omochurubieni (European), Bogisi (Fox) and many other names attribute their existence to the European owned tea estates. Currently Ngoina tea estate is owned by Uniliver Limited while Keritor estate (whose tea factory is a stone throw away) is owned by Sasini Company Limited.

Ikonge is naturally surrounded by hills from all sides giving an impression of a huge crater from an aerial view. Thus when one is in either of the hills, the town sleeps below and the tea estates stretch beyond the horizon giving 360 degrees view for the lovers of Mother Nature. This Centre boasts of various education institutions such as Ikonge Boys High School (nick named “Booster” after the Safaricom mast erected in the school compound located in one of the hills) and Ikonge Girls High School( nick-named “Safaricom” because of the green uniform they adorn that resembles Safaricom colors) . At night the ambient lights from the various entertainment joints illuminate the sky with a combination of azure atmosphere giving a rare marvel of what Mother Nature can offer. One such joint is Mombasa Ndogo Bar and Restaurant along the Kericho-Nyamira road usually filled to capacity with revelers.

A stone throw away from the town, is a stream called Riabirato which provides water to the densely populated market Centre and the two tea estates. Along the course of the stream are two natural springs named Omakori and Omasini named after the owners of the land in which they emanate from. The two springs seem to hum the same song with even the same sonority which seems to match with the gurgling of the stream as it snakes down the meanders and pour its water to Sondu Miriu river. The springs have the same attributes of never drying even in the hands of the harshest of dry spells like the one experienced in 1997. The water from the springs is also very clean and cold such that you don’t need a fridge to cool it; a rare natural fete only exhibited by these springs in the richly blessed land with weather conditions similar to those of Kericho County.

Further east in Ngoina tea estate is a unique hilly table land that is a spectacle to behold to many. This place is named Kasarani. Located in the middle of the expansive tea estate, one gets a wonderful 360 degrees view of the world. It has been set aside for retreats and anyone who wants to connect with nature and listen to the chirping of birds as they while away time. From Kasarani on a sunny cloudless day, one can see the sparkling waters of Lake Victoria as the sound of machines crushing the green tea from Keritor estate fill the air. While relaxing in the shades erected by the Ngoina estate management, the fresh air saturated with freshly produced tea aroma from Keritor factory seeps through the atmosphere to Ikonge town below and the world beyond. During the holidays, especially December, Kasarani is usually abuzz as people throng to the area to catch a glimpse of the beautiful world and breathe the fresh air concentrated with tea aroma.