About Kalenjin tribe
The tribe of the marathon runners
Kalenjin tribe are a Nilotic ethnic group. These highland nilotes are an ethnic grouping of eight culturally and linguistically related groups or tribes namely; the Kipsigis, Nandi, Tugen, Marakwet, Keiyo, Pokot, Sabaot and the Terik. The Kalenjin language spoken by these linguistic groups include Keyo (Keiyo), Cherangany, Tugen, Nandi language and Kipsigis (Kipsikiis, Kipsikis) language. The Kalenjin are popular both nationally and internationally for their athletic prowess that they are sometimes referred to as Kenya's running tribe. They are Kenya's 4th largest ethnic group with Kipsigis being the largest of the Kalenjin group.
The legends from the running tribe
Many legendary Kenyan long distance runners are Kalenjins. World renowned athlete, Kipchoge Keino is Kalenjin and was the first African to clinch a gold medal in 1500m race in 1968. Though retired, he is a Kenyan legend and a sports icon. Most of Kenya's earliest running heroes were of Nandi descent. Kipchoge Keino and Mike Boit both were Nandi, as are latter-day stars Wilson Kipketer and Moses Tanui. Tegla Loroupe, who holds the course record for the Quad-City Times Bix 7, as well as the world record in the women’s marathon, is Pokot. Five-time world cross country champion and world 10,000-meter record-holder Paul Tergat is Tugen. Helen Kimaiyo, winner of the ’96 Bix 7, is Keiyo. Three-time world steeplechase champion Moses Kiptanui is Marakwet. Though other Kenya tribes have produced world-class athletes the Kalenjins still dominate the marathon scene.
Religion
Today, nearly every Kalenjin is a member of an organized religion, Christianity or Islam. Major Christian sects popular with Kalenjin tribe include the Africa Inland Church (AIC), the Church of the Province of Kenya (CPK) and the Roman Catholic Church. Muslims are relatively few in number among the Kalenjin. Traditional Kalenjin religion is based upon the belief in a supreme god, Asis or Cheptalel, who is represented in the form of the sun, although this is not God himself. Beneath Asis is Elat, who is believed to control thunder and lightning. Spirits of the dead, oyik, are believed to intervene in the affairs of humans and can be placated with sacrifices of meat or beer, called koros. Diviners, called orkoik, are also believed to have magical powers which can assist in appeals for rain or to end floods. Only the older generation can recall details of traditional religious beliefs.
Kalenjin dress
Customary Kalenjin clothing consisted of skins of either domesticated or wild animals. Both male and female wore earrings made of heavy brass coils that stretched the earlobe down to shoulder level. Today, Kalenjins have adopted modern dressing.
Food
The staple Kalenjin food is ugali made from cornmeal, millet or sorghum. Like many other Kenya tribes at the dining table, Kalenjins often use bare hands to eat the ugali meal which may be served with cooked green vegetables such as kale. Favorite meat served includes roasted goat meat, beef, or chicken. Their popular beverage is mursik (a fermented whole milk that has been stored in a special gourd, cleansed by using a burning stick).
The Kalenjin & politics
Kalenjin tribe has been synonymous with Kenya politics since independence. The retired second Kenyan president Hon. Daniel Torotich Arap Moi is Kalenjin and ruled Kenya for 24 years. Currently, there are many top Kenya leaders of Kalenjin descent serving in politics and other top government and private positions.
Other ethnic tribes of Kenya