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By ALEX KIPROTICH and ROBERT KIPLAGAT
KENYA: They trekked, with their animals in tow. The tired leaned on the trees to regain energy. This was the journey of the livestock keepers in Baringo County heading to Kimalel to auction their goats yesterday, following the revival of the event.
The exercise was popularised by former President Daniel arap Moi in early years. And despite the demise of Ezekiel Barngetuny who was the master auctioneer, the selling of 1,159 goats went on well, fetching more than Sh9 million. Livestock sellers recalled Barngetuny as a master storyteller, and former President Moi’s “funny man” and a master of spontaneity.
Mr John Chemengu whose goats were among the thousands sold yesterday, says it was in the bidding that Barngetuny would be at his best, moving from person to person, taunting and jeering Moi allies until they outdid competitors to the joy of goat owners who would fetch more money.
“We really wished he would do the auctioning. He knew how to taunt buyers to move the bid higher. In fact, when it was announced that the auction would be revived we prayed that he would be the one selling,” says Paul Lemargong.
East African Community, Commerce and Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Phyllis Kandie broke the news of Barngetuny’s death to residents who had gathered at Kimalel Grounds for the two-day cultural event that ended yesterday.
Kandie, who was the chief guest on the first day asked residents to honour the memory of the former nominated MP by making the goat auction event an annual ceremony. President Uhuru Kenyatta was chief guest.
Reunion of keepers
It was joyous moment of reunion as livestock keepers who lost touch twelve years ago when the annual event, which had run since 1986 to 2001 uninterrupted, came to an abrupt stop. For the old livestock keepers, years were peeled back and to the young who had accompanied their parents, they stood puzzled, watching their parents hug and burst into laughter.
Old men whose hair had become grey with the passing of time reconnected each other by showing off the goats they had come with. One could see there was clearly a sense of comfort, optimism and happiness.
“We clothed our children, fed our families and schooled our sons and daughters from this,” said Peter Mursoi from Arabal as he pointed at the thousands of goats on holding ground waiting to be sold.
“We had suffered, facing really hard economic times,” added Joel Lechuta as he recalled the times with Mursoi.
Lechuta, who is now the Assistant Chief for Lokumkum remembers how he was among the young men whose work was to load the animals bought by dignitaries to lorries that would ferry them to their destinations. The administrator now in his 50’s recalls vividly how he loaded livestock for the former powerful minister Nicholas Biwott, former Vice-President, the late Prof George Saitoti, former Kenya Power and Lighting Company Managing Director, Samuel Gichuru, more others. “They were many, very many. Age has taken toll of my memory and I cannot remember all,” he asserts.
And yesterday, when Moi arrived some few minutes to mid-day, business came to a standstill as hundreds of people rushed to welcome him to the venue he last stood when he was the President in 2001.
Ululations rent the air as women and old men shouted ‘karibu nyayo’ as the former President walked sprightly into the goats holding sheds, looking at the animals with keen interest before raising his eyes to wave at the crowd. And while men showed off their animals to fellow men, women on the other side embraced at length and then stepped back to take keen look at each other; touching their hairs and reconnecting them by brushing and braiding — perhaps a ritual in the past as they waited for their men to sell the animals.
Good for families
“I used to come with my husband in the 90s and it was really good for families especially when it is few days to Christmas. My children would get new clothes, new shoes and we could celebrate well and still had money left for January fees,” recalls Mary Chepkwony.
Christine Bowen, a resident of Kimalel area says the auction enabled them dispose of thousands of goats owned by residents for money to educate their children and meet other family obligations.
“Moi did a wonderful thing by bringing ready market closer to the people. We own thousands of goats here and during that time I managed to take all my children to school without any problem,” says the mother of seven. But the gap left by Bargetuny was yesterday stage-managed by comedians who imitated the departed politician.
In those days during the goat auction event, over 8,000 goats were sold, which were grouped according to the number of locations in the entire Baringo County and the proceeds were later shared equally among the owners.
Lukas Tingos, Kibonjos Location chief, says the economy of the region will now be vibrant yet again as the event is not only opening up the region to meat lovers, but also to visitors who will be enthralled by beautiful sceneries in the region.
“This will transform the economy of the region. Visitors will at least leave money with us after buying our goats,” he says.
Goat at Sh6,000
Tingos adds that by the time the auction exercise collapsed, a goat would be auctioned for up to Sh6, 000.
This was a lot of money at the time and it was the role of the area chiefs and provincial administration to ensure that they mobilised livestock keepers to avail the animals.
“Every chief knew the number of goats their location sold and we would distribute them equally after the auction was done,” remarks the chief. The county government, which revived the event, hopes that it will be more successful than the previous one.
The previous one closed shop after it had seen over Sh50 million raised from the sale of about 31,863 goats, 2,518 sheep and 180 cows.
“It will be big, better and continuous,” says Governor Ben Cheboi.
Leaders at the two-day event eulogised the late Barngetuny who served for over a decade as the master of ceremony at the auction.
“The death of Barngetuny is so unfortunate to all the residents of Kenya and particularly Baringo County. We had invited him to grace the re-launch of Kimalel auction where he was a celebrated auctioneer,” says Cheboi.
