Sabaot elders drawn from Trans Nzoia and Bungoma counties have set plans in motion to conduct a cleansing ritual following the felling of two ancient fig trees regarded as culturally sacred.
One of the elders, Peter Chemaswet, said the ritual is intended to heal historical wounds, lift curses, and reunite clans that were fragmented by migration, conflict, and colonial-era displacement.
“The aim is to cleanse bitterness and curses left behind when our ancestors were forcibly displaced and scattered,” Chemaswet said while speaking in Kitale.
He noted that the two fig trees were central to ancient Sabaot rituals and symbolized the unity of the community and its neighbours.
“The ceremony will bring together 49 original clans, many of which later split into smaller sub-clans over time,” said Mr. Chemaswet.
Participants are required to identify themselves using their original clan names and to present a bull prepared according to traditional customs, including specific ear markings.
The elders said the bulls represent both cleansing and reconciliation rather than sacrifice alone.
The gathering is expected to draw communities from across the Rift Valley, including the Nandi, Kipsigis, Pokot, Tugen, Maasai, Bukusu, and Iteso, as well as Pokot groups from Uganda and Tanzania.
“The ritual will involve reconciliation and shared meals as a way of confronting past inter-communal violence and restoring harmony,” said Mr. Manyuror Arap Mulwo.
Mr. Manyuror explained that many clans lost their identities through assimilation after migration and will use the ceremony to reconnect with their roots, including presenting clan totems as proof of lineage.
The elders have scheduled a preparatory meeting for the 17th of this month in Kitalale, where clan chairpersons and secretaries will receive guidance on the rites and relay the information to their members.
The main ceremony will take place at the sites of the fallen fig trees, which elders say will be fully ritually concluded as part of the process.
Women are also expected to play a traditional role through songs and celebrations once the elders complete the core rites, in line with Sabaot customs.
The elders further linked the ritual to the long history of displacement from the Mt Elgon region during the colonial period, saying the ceremony symbolizes a collective “return home” and a renewed commitment to peaceful coexistence.
“We call for respect for traditional practices as protected under the Constitution and urge authorities to allow the ritual to proceed peacefully,” they said.
