By K, KNA
The Talai community, an indigenous group historically associated with the Kalenjin sub-tribes and renowned for their Orkoiyot spiritual leadership, are now seeking recognition as a distinct tribe in Kenya.
Talai, whose members are scattered across Kericho, Bomet, Nandi, Narok, Baringo, Homa Bay, Mandera, Meru and Suba, say official recognition will help preserve their identity and correct decades of marginalisation.
During a special ceremony held at Kiprugut Chumo Stadium in Kericho Town, hundreds of Talai community members gathered to present their demands to the Head of the Minorities and Marginalized Affairs Unit in the Executive Office of the President Josphat Lowoi.
National Chairman of the Talai Council of Elders, Rev James Baasi, argued that the community had endured historical injustices dating back to the colonial era, when their ancestral leaders were exiled and their ancestral lands in Kericho and Nandi confiscated, stressing that this displacement disrupted their cultural continuity and left subsequent generations excluded from mainstream social and economic development of the nation.
Speaking to the Press, Rev Baasi pointed out that the Talai leadership presented a petition to the government seeking intervention on land restitution, access to development programs, and the allocation of a distinct community code during official registration exercises.
The gathering at the stadium also brought together Talai representatives from Suba, where the community has adopted Luo as their primary language but continues to preserve aspects of Talai identity.
In response to their pleas, the Executive Office of the President, Minorities and Marginalised Affairs Unit Head/Secretary Mr Josphat Lowoi, who received the memorandum, assured the community that the government was finalising a policy framework to address the concerns of all marginalised groups across the country, including issues of land, identity, and socio-economic empowerment.
“We recognise the Talai as part of Kenya’s cultural heritage, and their grievances are being considered in the ongoing formulation of a policy for minority and marginalized communities, and the government is committed to inclusive development,” Mr. Lowoi said.
The event was vibrant and full of colour, as community members adorned themselves in traditional regalia and accessories, while enjoying folk songs that celebrated their rich culture.
According to oral history, colonial authorities targeted the Talai for their central role in mobilizing resistance through the Orkoiyot leadership.
Secretary General of the National Talai Association, Kenneth Ngeno explained that several families were forcefully deported to far-flung areas including Kisii, Gwassi, and Northern Kenya, while their ancestral land was taken over for settler farming.
“For many years, we have been seeking justice for our people who remain scattered and displaced, living in abject poverty, and believe this time round the government will remember us,” said Mr Ngeno.
He said that while the Talai are often considered part of the broader Kipsigis sub-group of the Kalenjin, they maintain distinct cultural traditions and with their own genealogies, that is why they need to be recognised as a minority group.
The 2010 Constitution obligates the State to protect and promote the rights of minorities and marginalised groups under Articles 56 and 100.
The event was also attended by Kericho East, Deputy County Commissioner Dr. Kibe Maguta, Secretary for Strategic Initiatives, Cohesion and Integration Mr Paul Savimbi Bii, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Geoffrey Rono, and National Heroes Council CEO, Mr. Charles Wambia, among others.
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Caption (Photos by Kibe Mburu)
Picture 1
Mr. Josphat Lowoi, Head/Secretary of the Minorities and Marginalized Affairs Unit at the Executive Office of the President, received a petition from Rev. James Baasi, National Chairman of the Talai Council of Elders (with Mic), and Mr. Kenneth Ngeno, Secretary General of the National Talai Association (in yellow), requesting recognition of the Talai community as a minority tribe. The petition was presented during an event at Kiprugut Chumo Stadium in Kericho Town.