Significance of shrines in Kalenjin community

Members of the parliament across the political parties in prayers during the ICC prayers for deputy president William Ruto and Radio Journalist Joshua Sang at Kiptororo ground in Kuresoi North in Nakuru county on 05-09-2015, the legislators stated that the ICC Was subjecting one community to the crime against humanity, adding that they will do all possible to remove the duo from the court PHOTO:BONIFACE THUKU

The special prayers held at Kiptororo in Kuresoi North, Nakuru County yesterday has thrust into the limelight the revered place of shrines among the Kalenjin.

Leaders from ruling the Jubilee alliance and Opposition joined the clergy and elders in special prayers for the Deputy President William Ruto and former radio journalist Joshua arap Sang who are facing charges at the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

While the Deputy President and Sang stayed away, the ceremony affirms the significance of shrines in Kalenjin community, which have been the subject of study by historians.

Myoot Council of Elders Chairman Bishop Paul Leleito says unlike other communities, the Kalenjin did not hold prayers under tree or hills as they worshiped Asis (sun).

Bishop Leleito, who welcomed the prayers held at the Kiptororo Shrine, says the priest in the traditional Kalenjin set-up used the shrine to offer prayers, blessing and cleansing to the members of the community.

Important ceremonies

"Tulwop Kipsigis in Londiani is one of the revered shrines where the Kipsigis forefathers settled and lived for many years. Here the elders held important ceremonies like circumcision, cleansing and prayers," Leleito notes.

He adds that the community held different ceremonies at the shrines, with priests leading the prayer, cleansing and blessing ceremonies on behalf of the community.

Leleito also says that Kalenjins used the shrines to seek for divine intervention in times of adversities like epidemics, famine, floods, among others.

According to historian Bill Rutto, the shrines which are popularly known as 'Kapkoros' were a place where the community went for prayers once a year to give thanksgiving to god.

He adds that the community also used the shrines as place to approach god in time of disasters as community elders sought divine understanding of different phenomena affecting the community.

Divine intervention

"The issue of political prayers were not contemplated in the Kalenjin community. The shrines were, however, places where the community sought divine intervention from god when faced with disasters like droughts or floods," Mr Rutto explains.

Shrines revered by the community include Tulwop Kipsigis in Londiani, Kapkoros, Motigo in Bomet and Kiptororo among others situated in various parts of the vast Rift Valley region.

Though the community has in the past made political declarations at the famous Kapkatet Stadium, Rutto says such declarations do not have spiritual significance to the community.

"Leaders have in the past been congregating at Kapkatet to give a political feel to their quests. However, such meeting have nothing spiritual and evolved from meeting back in the colonial days," he adds.