Is Ruto the light that Koitalel saw a century ago?

Deputy President William Ruto during the Kenya Kwanza Nakuru county Economic Forum on May 19, 2022. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

In 2006, a century after the Nandi resistance, a Kenyan from Warwick University, with the help of British archaeologists, found a ‘sacred’ tribal stick thought to have been used by Koitalel arap Samoei, the legendary Nandi leader. It was traced to the home of Captain Richard Meinertzhagen–the man who shot Koitalel in 1906.

His son Randle Meinertzhagen decided to return it to Kenya. A politician remarked that “it was so glorious for the Nandi to have once again acquired the strength of their great grandfather”. Curiously, the stick was ceremoniously handed to Deputy President William Ruto and kept at the Eldoret Town Hall. This act earned Dr Ruto a euphoric following and great respect. Many Kalenjins viewed Ruto as the reincarnation of Koitalel.