By VINCENT MABATUK and ROBERT KIPLAGAT

It was fun and joy as hundreds of Kimalel residents cleared thorny bushes, repaired roads and constructed traditional huts in readiness for the return of the famous Kimalel goat auction next month.

Unlike 10 years ago, visitors interested in buying goats to celebrate Christmas and the New Year festivities will also have a chance to sample different cultures of communities residing in Baringo County.

More than 3,000 goats are expected to be sold during the three-day Kimalel cultural fair and goat auction.

From each ward 100 goats are expected to be brought across the county.

Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi said the county expects the auction founder, former President Daniel Arap Moi to lead other guests that day.

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Brainchild of Moi

The annual event, which began in 1986, offered a special way for meat lovers across the country to welcome Christmas.

The auction was the brainchild of Moi to enable Baringo residents to be self-reliant by selling their goats.

Since collapse of the project following Moi’s exit from power in 2002, what remains in what was once a favourite Christmas destination for Kenya’s Who’s Who in the political and corporate world was in ruin, thorny shrubs and overgrown acacia trees.

Ms Nater Lokuam is doing interior finishing of a Turkana traditional hut ready for the big day. She will not be bringing any goat but will be promoting her culture through display of community traditional attire.

“What I am now constructing is a man’s bed, but outside I will put up another because when a Turkana woman delivers a baby, the husband is supposed to spend the night outside for two months before being allowed to see the baby or eat food prepared by the woman,” narrates Lokuam.

Next to her is Esther Chungu, a Pokot woman preparing a fireplace but to her, return of the goat auction means a lot given that she was among the residents that brought animals to Kimalel in the mid-90s.

Other communities that have put up their traditional homesteads include Tugen who are the majority in the county, Ilchamus and Kikuyu communities.

Talai Kikwar said lack of market to sell their animals for school fees is a thing of the past and urged the county government to ensure the event is sustained for next generations.

“We are sure that prices will now go up compared to what we get from local buyers who are also few forcing the locals to wait for long to sell out their goats”, said Ms Kikwar.

County Speaker William Kamket said the region was rich in culture, sporting activities and talented in many ways.

“Besides career life, one can pursue these and earn a better living.

Exploiting talent, showcasing culture and value addition to our products will ensure employment creation and income generating for our people,” stated the Speaker.

He urged residents of Baringo to take the opportunity seriously in order to enrich themselves.

Cheboi said the county intends to promote cultural tourism in the area as a way of creating job opportunities for the unemployed youth.  “There will be road races, music competition and boat races with reward to the winners the same day,” the governor told The Standard On Sunday team.