By / October 7, 2022

KAPCHAAK CLAN

 

Clan totem: Thunder(iilet)

Rivers: Kasawai, Kipyoywan, Kipkulkul, Sosio and Kwomcheptui

Caves:

  • Toroton
  • Cheptobot
  • Chebebek
  • Chebaraakut
  • Kool
  • Karas
  • Too
  • Kapsang
  • Tupkebut
  • Etwanta
  • Koboywo
  • Ing’woo
  • Isoo
  • Tebeemouti
  • Loyet
  • Kibewit
  • Chepkebutoi
  • Kiserkech
  • Cheleng’wet

 

The founder was Kipchak. The clan name kapchaak originated from the founder kipchak which means quick runner(choktoy).

Origin: Historically, it is believed that Kalenjin originated from Egypt and came through Ethipia to Uganda(Sabiny). During the dispersal of Kalenjin, Kipchak settled in a cave called Chebebek(cheleng’wet). Around Toboo area in Chepkitale.

After marrying, he had three sons:- Mokokir, Chepkulei and Chepkokoi.

 

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

Child naming- a child was named after a dead person, season, events. The ceremony involved some beer and takurkuryet (round in shape), milk etc.

Circumcision- the person was circumcised at the age above 20 years. Both male and female were circumcised. This was a ssign of a person coming from youth to adulthood. From here, a person can marry or be married. Before circumsition, for the first born, there was a ceremony where a bull (yeytab kootyek) was slaughtered, beer and a friend called Ng’iyoway was made. The friend was highly respected and could not drink water but instead takes milk. At this stage, there was re-naming and formation age-sets. The age-set took 16 years before another one begins.

The age set were as follows: ohmomo, chepkuy, rimrim, somoinen, ntatwa, muchungu, korongoro, kwaimet, kaplelach, nyonngi, sawe.

Marriage- it took place after circumcision. There was courtship(koyeyto). This was engagement. When your tobacco and beer(lakweek) was accepted, it was sign of acceptance. THIS WAS AFTER THE FAMILY SCRUITINIZE THE CHARACTER OF THE BOY’S FAMILY.

Dowery- long time ago, they paid using skin clothes (sambut, sumbet, makonget,aywet;axe). When the animals came, they began with one or two cows but when people became rich, they paid with six cows;

  • Chemng’ai(with a café).
  • Shoma
  • Bull(moleiwontet)
  • Plus, three others
  • Two sheep accompanying the cows
  • Chepsikiryo(sheep), other mother
  • Kaboker
  • One bull for uncle.

 

ADMINISTRATION

Leadership was by laibons. Clan elders formed council of elders. The council of elders reconcile community members. They made important decisions eg when a person is murdered by clan members, land disputes, boundaries (bee hives).  No clan was allowed to hang beehives on other persons’ territory. In case of such, there was penalty.

Theft: when this occurred and one is found guilty, the elers fined twice and one for the elers.

Other activities were; wrestling, storytelling and animal raring.

 

ECONOMY

There was barter trade. The items included sambut(mikitiit from skin), sumbet, cattle and sheep, goats, bee keeping. They exchange with cows, goats, /sheep. They exchanged baskets with millet from Teso, Tachoek, kongok(banana/mekekenik), other food was blood from cows.

N/B WE INTER-MARRY WITH ALL OTHER CLANS UNLESS IF THERE WAS A KILLING BY THE CLANS.

 

LIVING BEFORE COLONIAL

Before colonization, people lived in moorland; top of the mountain(Ter) to Kipkures(Kitale), Cheborokia(kitalale) borering Tachoni within their boundaries. During dry season, they moved to the forest and uring rainy season, they moved ddown to the grassland ie the above named areas. This is where colonizers found them.

 

EVICTION

Eviction by the whites starte around 1920s. The whites moved the people upwards (1920-1926). The people moved upards and some settled in the Kool cave but the land was leased to the forest.

From here, Chemombut moved to Kitabos(mtarakwo).  Morei went to Kool and later to Tubkabur. The others decided to work for the colonial. Morei to Kipserkech where arap biriir and a soldier called pili came in and force them to move up. They were given two sheps,later on; one sheep was returned and they were forced to move up. They went and lived in Mabecho but they were further driven to the moorland. Morei moved beyond Sosio, Chemses(1935)but Chemombut came back and ettled at Kererwa. During eviction, some went to Mosop but others accepted towork for the whites.

 

MAJOR EVENTS

Major events were cattle keeping, Chepkony arap moiben(chemombut) resisted the colonialism eviction and stayed at kool(came). He demanded for his land from the whites. During this time, he was fined through selling of his cows.

Chemombut is a nickname meaning huge and strong person. He stayed at Kool until 1987. He died in 1989 at the age of…. In 18th centuries, the Nanis used to invade people and kortek and chepkwesi were taken hostage by the nandis.

In Tubkebur, Chepng’ok and Kipsing’o were taken too. A delegation was led (alamaliet) to follow the captives. It was led by Sangula accompanied by kwemei. Samoei was holding the captives. Kipsingo , kortek and two daughters were brought back. Kipingar was a hunter and he protected his land. In 1902, he was employed as a soldier because of maumau. Later employed as wildlife ranger managing Rokok to Suam.

  • Listing ID: 1291
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