NANDI RESISTANCE (1895) – 1905)
Refer to
the resistance that
was waged by
the Nandi people
in Kenya against
the I.B.E.A.CO ( The British
Colonial rule). The Nandi
resisted the British
intrusion under their
leader Koitalel Arap Samoei. The
title of the
Nandi leader was
called “ Orkoiyot”
Traditionally, the Nandi were
pastoralists.
During
the 19th c the
Nandi became superior
as they managed
to win different
battles with their
neighboring societies such
as the Maasai. The
Nandi grew more
powerful as the
Maasai power declined. Therefore, during the
advent of British
Colonial rule, the Nandi
resisted strongly against
the British penetration.
They did
not allow Europeans
even to cross
their territory. In 1895, they
killed a British trader
named West as
he attempted to
pass through their
land. This awakened the
British to start
fighting the Nandi.
REASONS FOR NANDI RESISTANCE
i.
The
Construction of railway. The I.B.E.A.CO started
to construct the railway
line which was
to pass through the
Nandi’s land. This railway
line made the
Nandi to start
resisting because the
railway interfered their
daily activities and
culture.
ii.
Land
problem. The
construction of the
railway had impact
on the Nandi people. The
Nandi were removed
from their land
as the British
wanted to create
vacant land for
whites settlement. This made
the Nandi not
to continue with
pastoral activities hence
resistance against the
British.
iii.
The
Nandi resistance. The
Nandi believed that
they were superior
as they had
experienced different wars
with their neighbors
and won them. They
believed that their
culture was superior
and they did
not want their
culture to be
interfered by anybody. This
made them to
resist the British.
iv.
Kimnyole’s
prophecy. Kimnyole was an Ex
– Orkoiyot. During his reign, he had
prophesized that Nandi
land would one
day be ruled
by the foreigners. Also he
added that one
day there would
come a long and
big snake from Indian
Ocean belching smoke
and fire. The snake turned to
be the
railway, and when the
Nandi saw the
construction of the
railway they started
to resist against
the British.
v.
The
need to protect their political freedom. Koitale Arap Samoei
organized the Nandi to resist against the British in order to restore and
protect their political freedom. This is due to the fact that, the Nandi did
not want to under British Colonial rule.
Although the Nandi resisted heavily the British colonial rule for
about 10 years , but
they were at
last defeated. It was in 1905
that the Nandi
were defeated by
the British.
Note
The
British managed to defeat them after killing their leader Koitalel Arap Samoei
(Orkoiyot). The British Commander, Colonel Meinertzhagen visited
the Nandi leaders
as Orkoiyot came
out to greet
his visitors he
was shot dead
together with other
leaders, From that moment, the
Nandi were removed
to the reserves
EFFECTS OF NANDI RESISTANCE
a) Massive loss of life. The
Council of Elders, the
Orkoiyot and the
army warriors were
both killed
b) Destruction of the Nandi properties.
The Nandi villages
and farms were
set on fire
by the British. The
British also confiscated a lot
of cattle which
belonged to the
Nandi.
c) The Nandi became squatters.
The Nandi became
squatters on the
white farms. They were
employed as cheap
laborers
d) Africans were pushed into reserves and
others were left landless. Those who
were pushed into the
reserves, were turned into
squatters and employed
as cheap laborers.
e) Completion of the railway line.
The defeat of
the Nandi made
the British to
continue with the
construction of the
railway line which
in turn facilitated
transportation in Kenya
and Uganda respectively.
f)
British
Colonialism. The
defeat of the
Nandi made the
British to colonize
the Nandi country. The
Nandi lost their sovereignty.
Tags
HISTORY