Barsirian Arap Manyei

Barsirian Arap Manyei (1882 – 10 April 1974) was the last widely recognized Nandi Orkoiyot and Kenya's longest serving political detainee.[1][2][3][4]

Early life

Barsirian was born to Koitalel arap Samoei in 1882 in Samitu, part of present Nandi County.[1] He was the second born son of Koitalel's second wife, Taparchok chepo Chebwai.[4] His elder brother was known as Surtan Lelimo arap Somoei and he had three sisters known as Titau, Kopot Kiboor and Kopot chepo Siror.

Barsirian was initiated into the Nyongi age-set.[5]

Father's assassination

Barsirian's father, Koitalel arap Samoei, was assassinated on 19 October 1905. The colonial administration subsequently set about banishing, detaining or killing his brothers and sons.

Kibeles was installed as Nandi Orkoiyot by the protectorate administration following the 'Muhoroni Conference' in 1909 though he would die shortly after in July, 1912.

Following Kibeles death, the Nandi convinced the protectorate administration to appoint Lelimo arap Samoei as heir to his father's office. However, it is reported that the administration sought an informant in Lelimo's court and found one in one of his bodyguards a short while later. Lelimo subsequently found out about this and put the bodyguard to death following which he went into hiding.[5]

Orkoiyot of Nandi: 1919–1923

Barsirian arap Manyei took over the office of Orkoiyot in 1919.[1][3]

Nandi Protest

A number of factors taking place in the early 1920s led to what has come to be termed the Nandi Protest[6] or Uprisings of 1923. It was the first expression of organized resistance by the Nandi since the wars of 1905–06.

A number of factors contributed to the unrest, chief among them; the land alienation of 1920 and a steep increase in taxation, taxation tripled between 1909 and 1920 and because of a change in collection date, two taxes were collected in 1921. Additionally, due to fears of a spread of rinderpest following an outbreak, a stock quarantine was imposed on the Nandi Reserve between 1921 and 1923. The Nandi, prevented from selling stock outside the Reserve, had no cash to pay taxes. The labor conscription that took place under the Northey Circulars added to the bitterness against the colonial government.

By 1923, when the saget ab eito (sacrifice of the ox) was to take place, these factors had been contributing to a buildup of antagonism and unrest toward the government for three years. The historically significant ceremony where leadership of the community was transferred between generations had always been followed by an increased rate of cattle raiding as the now formally recognized warrior age-set sought to prove its prowess. The approach to a saget ab eito thus witnessed expressions of military fervor and for the ceremony all Nandi males would gather in one place.

Alarmed at the prospect, the colonial government came to believe that Barsirian was planning to use the occasion of the Saget ab eito as a cover under which to gather forces for a massive military uprising. On 16 October 1923, several days before the scheduled date for the saget ab eito, Barsirian Arap Manyei and four other elders were arrested and deported to Meru. Permission to hold the ceremony was subsequently withdrawn and it did not take place.[7]

Detention

Barsirian Arap Manyei was detained from 1923 to 1964 making him Kenya's longest serving political prisoner.[3] He was detained at Meru, Mfangano Island and in Kapsabet.[8]

Life after detention

Multiple reports suggest that Barsirian Arap Manyei spent his life after detention in penury. It is recorded for instance that on 25 November 1970, Arap Saina, a Kenyan Member of Parliament asked in that body, what action the Government would take to help Barsirian "whose age was approaching 90 years, and who had a large family who were all squatters".[8][4]

Death

Barsirian Arap Manyei died on 10 April 1974. He was buried at his wife's (Taplelei) home at Lemoru Ngeny village in Uasin Gishu County.[4]

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References
  1. Mangat, Rupi (5 December 2008). "Murder that shaped the future of Kenya". The East African. Nairobi: Nation Group. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  2. Rutto, Bill (21 October 2010). "Heroes that kept the fire burning". Standard. Nairobi: Standard Group. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  3. Caplan, Betty (14 July 2012). "Brutal killings, tragic love story – the tangled rich history of the Nandi Hills". The East African. Nairobi: Nation Group. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  4. Ntoyai, Manuel (12 December 2018). "Little-known hero Barsirian arap Koitalel". People Daily. Nairobi: Mediamax. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  5. Nandi Sailor News, Barsirian arap Manyei: Persecuted in life, neglected in death online
  6. Ellis, D. The Nandi Protest of 1923 in the Context of African Resistance to Colonial Rule in Kenya, The Journal of African History, Vol. 17, No 4 (1976)
  7. Oboler, R.S, online, Stanford University Press, 1985
  8. The National Assembly (18 December 1970). "Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard) Nov 17 – Dec 18, 1970". Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard). Nairobi: The National Assembly.
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