Rift Valley’s forgotten jewel

It is a small town with a rich heritage. Tambach is where retired President Daniel arap Moi had his first stint as a teacher at the local high school.

The town, which is endowed with rich history, gives a clear picture of colonial times when the British stationed a district officer in the town.

The town’s historical buildings include a prison camp, administrative offices, a hospital and a Government school.

The rich history and beautiful geographical setting have set Tambach apart as a tourism hub on the North Rift tourism circuit. It is stands out as the most unique in the Great Rift Valley.

It boasts dynamic cultures of the eight clans of the Keiyo community, but one distinctive feature would certainly attract more than a passing glance — the Kipkoikoi rock, which rises above Tambach town and is revered in the Keiyo community.

Pedestrians using the footpath near the huge rock used to drop a few coins at the foot of the rock, and if they didn’t have money, they would do the same with a handful of grass.

In fact, milk peddlers enroute to the town from the highlands would pour some milk onto the rock, turning it whitish. This was a symbolic pleas to the gods to “hold the rock from falling on the town”.

“We would spit, drop coins and get on our knees to pray to the gods to hold it firmly,” says Titus Kiprono, a local resident.

He says the locals stopped pouring libations, but the rock is still firm despite landslides wreaking havoc in the neighbourhood.

Change

“People do not drop coins nowadays. But our old men and women still leave handfuls of grass beside the rock,” says Jonathan Chesesio, who lives in Tambach.

Tambach, which is one of the oldest towns in Kenya, was established in 1920s by colonialists. The scenery, the culture of the people and the colonial buildings have made it a tourist attraction.

In 2002, the National Museums of Kenya established a museum in the town to maintain its heritage and the colonial buildings.

A seven-room building, which was the former district commissioner’s office during the colonial period, was refurbished in 2003 to create room for the archaeological artifacts of Elgeyo/Marakwet County.

Tourists also enjoy the scenery consisting of undulating hills and rivers.

Residents who spoke to Home & Away, however, said the town is not doing well because of neglect by the Government.

A resident by the name Kiplagat said the town has poor infrastructure which has resulted in slow growth. “I think it is wrong to see this town look like a village,” he said.

Christine Cheywayo, a tailor in the town, said Tambach needs a maize factory to attract investors. This, she says, will improve the town’s image.

She appealed to the Government to put up institutions of higher learning - colleges, universities and polytechnics - to boost business in the town. Doing so, she said, would increase demand for housing.

No competition

Wilson Kosgey, a businessman, said that Tambach centre is not improving because those doing business are locals, hence there is no competition. He said the only way to develop the town is by building more industries and schools.

“If the national and county governments want this town to grow, let them build colleges. This will force the residents to build good houses for rent and create competition among businesses,” said Kosgey.

For now though, historical structures and the scenery continue to attract tourists to the town.