REUBEN CHEPKURUI: Baringo Endorois legend who killed Lion

BY KIPKEMBOI ARAAP KORIR

This is the story of Reuben Chepkurui a living Bar-Ngetuny from Kamurian Village, Kamar Location in Mogotio Sub-county, Baringo County who killed a lion.

He says he acted out of ignorance, taking part in the killing of that precious lion, a National treasure and the pride of our Nationhood.

Today, the same man is a leading voice in the noble mission to conserve and protect all forms of Wild life, and especially the endangered Great Kudu.

In the 1960s, a male lion often descended from the Hills of Mochongoi in the modern day Baringo South, and wreaked havoc in the lower regions of Loboi and the hills of Kamar.

The lion was believed to be a resident of Keneroi Forest in Mochongoi, and had a distinguished appetite for cow meat. The lion had several accusations in the court of Mankind within Kamar. He was also guilty of eating several goats and sheep, a crime he dismissed arguing that goats and sheep were just a the beast into the banks of the massive Molok

River, The Lion was quietly digesting his meal when deafening noise roused him up from his slumber land!

Due to his physical agility and fame as a traditional dancer and a commander, Chepkurui was armed with an assortment of arrows and a special dagger (Changina) among the Kalenjin speaking dialects. The sword is mainly used to kill an enemy through stabbing and strangely.

The other three commanders were the Late Mzee Tolia from Lelen Village,The Late Mzee Cheparakwa of Kaplelwo Village and Mzee

Takrok Kamurmuch of Kaplelelwo Village,The four commanders took a Vow to lead the assault and to coordinate every move.

‘’There was a small cliff near the river and the Lion tried to manoeuvre his way up the rocks and to his surprise, he was already surrounded by an army of men each speaking in ‘his own tongues’ the old man narrated without forgetting to reveal that during those days, each every Endorois warrior ‘owned a special song mostly dedicated to a favourite bull the warrior owned. snack and not a real meal.

‘’My song was called Getumunye and I still own the copyright! The song was in honour of a big bull which I owned and swore by him! I was singing my song and my fellow Morans were doing the same’’ the old man who is a great admirer of former Mogotio Legislator Professor Helen Sambili said.

The moment of reckoning arrived, time to decide if it is the dog that wags the tail, it was about 3pm when the Operation started rolling, the lion had to choose between fighting to survive or to die in the fight for his life! An arrow from one of the commanders landed and sunk right into the lion’s dark mane. The beast leaped up and roar that came from his mouth was reportedly heard in Radad and environs 40Km radius!

During those days, thick bushes engulfed the whole of Kamar Location. Regions around Lake Bogoria were a real wilderness, providing a unique cover for the lion that was now becoming a menace and unpredictable like the Man eaters of the Tsavo!

"In the year 1970, the Lion was sighted at a place called Kap-Lomaria. He was travelling towards Kamar and that was going to be his end. The Morans of Kamar remained on a high alert,"

Mzee Chepkurui who does not know the year of his birth said. That same night, the lion killed a cow at the home of Mzee Chepyegon Tarkwen. The Morans felt outwitted by the fierce beast and they knew that without an immediate action to stop the beast, more cattle would be lost and poverty would become their new resident! Cattle were their only wealth, mark of status and their only savings account.

Armed with clubs, spears, bows and arrows, about eighty Murenik of the Endorois pursued

According to Chepkurui,the beast bite the arrow that was lodged in his mane and broke it to pieces while More arrows landed on the beast and he continued roaring in great pain, Chepkurui was losing his hearing and the battle was raging

The infantry retreated leaving the four commandos at the mercy of their ancestral gods.

In a nutshell,the beast went for Chepkurui having accessed that he was the biggest threat! He was making an advance aiming to plunge the sword into the heart of the beast. One of the commandos was to cover him but it was becoming unbearable.

The Commando tasked to provide cover decided to flee, though he had two spears to defend the assault team! Mzee Tolia however stood his ground and managed to dispatch a blow that crippled the beast and silenced it forever.

Chepkurui was already wounded and was writhing in great pain!

The beast sunk his sharp canines right in his left shoulder, completely shattering his left collar bone, He was Flowing Blood like a small river when he used a nearby tractor as an ambulance to rush him for first aid treatment.