Sabaot community members after presenting a memorandum to the National Dialogue Committee at the Bomas of Kenya on September 25, 2023. [File, Standard]
Hundreds of members of the Sabaot community from across Kenya and neighbouring countries on Friday converged in Trans-Nzoia County for a special cleansing ceremony aimed at opening a new chapter after a century of disunity, tribal animosity and economic setbacks.
Elders representing the community’s 27 clans conducted a traditional cleansing ritual to dispel what they described as historical curses that had divided the community politically and economically and contributed to conflicts with neighbouring communities.
The ceremony began on Thursday at Marambachi, where each clan slaughtered a cow and a goat for the gathering. The clans also prepared traditional brew, a key ingredient in the ritual.
While the meat was consumed on Thursday, the brew remained untouched until Friday afternoon, when elders gave permission for it to be consumed.
An open field opposite Marambachi Comprehensive School was transformed into a cultural centre, with 27 traditional huts erected to represent the clans. Women remained inside the huts to monitor the traditional brew, while men roasted meat outside.