How restitution money for Koitalel arap Samoei’s murder ‘birthed’ Sachang’wan blackspot

Nandi chief Koitalel arap Samoei was shot at point-blank range by Richard Henry Meinertzhagen.

Orkoiyot Koitalel arap Samoei was the face of Nandi resistance against the British colonial rule. He was shot dead by British colonial officer Richard Henry Meinertzhagen after luring him to a truce meeting that never was. When Koitalel arrived at the venue in the morning of October 19, 1905, Richard shot him at point-blank range as the Orkoiyot stretched his hand to shake the Briton’s. The chief’s death effectively ended the Nandi resistance. Years later, Richard sought to mend fences with Koitalel’s family. According to historian and preacher Peter Chemaswet,  chief Elijah and Malel offered to mediate, but failed to bring the two parties together and instead pocketed money the Briton had brought as restitution for killing revered Orkoiyot.

 “He was coming to apologize to Koitalel’s family through Elijah and Malel who took the money but did not take the gift to the family,” says Chemaswet while trying to trace the genesis of accidents around Sachang’wan.