Koitalel Arap Samoei
Encyclopedia
Koitalel Arap Samoei was an Orkoiyot
, the supreme chief of the Nandi people
of Kenya
, who led the Nandi rebellion against the British colonial rule.
Koitalel Arap Samoei followed his father Kimnyole
as the Orkoiyot and was enthroned in 1885. When British colonials began building the Uganda Railway
through the Nandi area, he led an eleven-year resistance movement against the railway.. On October 19, 1905, he was invited by British Col. Richard Meinertzhagen
under the guise of negotiating a truce, and was instead murdered along with his companions.
His son, Barsirian Arap Manyei (born 1882), was the Nandi leader from 1919 until 1922 when he was detained by the British. Barsirian was not released until 1964, making him the longest-serving political prisoner in Kenyan history.
A mausoleum
has been built for Koitalel Arap Samoei in Nandi Hills, Kenya
.
Orkoiyot
An Orkoiyot is the supreme chief of the Nandi people of Kenya. As the Nandi have a dual administrative system, the Orkoiyot is the chief spiritual leader and also has the authority to make decisions regarding security, involving the waging of war. Orkoiyot does not manage the affairs of everyday...
, the supreme chief of the Nandi people
Nandi people
The Nandi people are a number of Kenyan tribes living in the highland areas of the Nandi Hills in Rift Valley Province who speak the Nandi languages. They are a sub-group of the Kalenjin people....
of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, who led the Nandi rebellion against the British colonial rule.
Koitalel Arap Samoei followed his father Kimnyole
Kimnyole
Kimnyole was the Nandi Orkoiyot who predicted the arrival of Europeans and the railways who were to change everything for the Nandi.Kimnyole was assassinated by the Nandi....
as the Orkoiyot and was enthroned in 1885. When British colonials began building the Uganda Railway
Uganda Railway
The Uganda Railway is a railway system and former railway company linking the interiors of Uganda and Kenya with the Indian Ocean at Mombasa in Kenya.-Origins:...
through the Nandi area, he led an eleven-year resistance movement against the railway.. On October 19, 1905, he was invited by British Col. Richard Meinertzhagen
Richard Meinertzhagen
Colonel Richard Henry Meinertzhagen CBE DSO was a British soldier, intelligence officer and ornithologist.- Background and youth :Meinertzhagen was born into a socially connected, wealthy British family...
under the guise of negotiating a truce, and was instead murdered along with his companions.
His son, Barsirian Arap Manyei (born 1882), was the Nandi leader from 1919 until 1922 when he was detained by the British. Barsirian was not released until 1964, making him the longest-serving political prisoner in Kenyan history.
A mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
has been built for Koitalel Arap Samoei in Nandi Hills, Kenya
Nandi Hills, Kenya
Nandi Hills is a highland area of lush green rolling hills at the edge of the Great Rift Valley in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. The scenic area is known for its tea estates, and is home to many world-renowned athletes, including Kipchoge Keino, Nandi Hills is a highland area of lush green...
.