Skip to main content

The Story of Eldoret Town – How A Spelling Mistake Led To Its Birth

Image
By

 

Ranked as the fifth most populated urban area in Kenya today after Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Ruiru, Eldoret was founded in 1910.

According to an excerpt from the book 'On the Wings of a Sparrow' by G. Sang & H. Kili, Willie van Aardt was granted block no. 64 (now Eldoret) but found it unsuitable to farm.

The Post Master General Mr J. Gosling toured the area and determined that land as suitable for a post office and set about to construct one.

Curiously, the land was also exactly 64 miles from Londiani and so it was that the place was named Sixty-four. However, after Governor Sir Percy Girouard came to visit in 1912, the settlers suggested to him that the town be named after him.


Some said it should be called ‘Girouardfontein’ maintaining the Afrikaner naming culture. Girouard declined saying that his French name would be difficult for the British (and Afrikaner) settlers to pronounce let alone the natives - (the ‘d’ is silent).

The fact that they wanted the town named after him shows that he was an instant celebrity among the Afrikaners many of whom had French Huguenot roots. His wife, however, was the reason he was popular. She was Afrikaner by birth.

While the name ‘64’  or Sisibo to the locals was quite popular, it was not considered as were the other suggested names - Farm 64, Bado Kidogo and Sosiani.  Another popular name was Sirikwa – the name of an ancient tribe that once occupied the Plateau but which disappeared – some say into Southern Africa. Their name also failed to be considered.


Finally, the town was named after the nearby Eldare River – now, River Sosiani. ‘Eldare’ is a Maasai name that translates to Stony River.

The settlers, however, added the letter ‘t’ after the name ‘Eldare’ so as to make it sound more like a Nandi name. Nearly every noun in Nandi language ends with the consonant ‘t’ – something the settlers found very curious.

And so Eldaret it was! A spelling mistake in the gazette notice that appeared in January 1912, gave the town the name Eldoret. Nobody bothered to correct it and so it has been like that ever since.


This account of the Story of Eldoret is based on an excerpt from the book ‘On the Wings of a Sparrow’ written by G. Sang & H. Kili.

Baoriat Agencies is committed to helping you find the best place for you to settle in Eldoret town. We walk you through the entire process of acquiring your own property in Eldoret until it has been transferred into your hands

To learn more about buying a property in Eldoret, 

Call 0721-554937

WhatsApp  https://wa.me/0721-554937  

Email evekibet@gmail.com or 

Visit us at  Juma Hajee Building room number 16, Eldoret town 

Follow our Facebook Page Boariat Agencies for the latest deals.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Major Streets in Eldoret Town – Perfect for Mega Investments

By
  If you are looking for a place to put your investment in around Eldoret town, then consider the Central Business District (CBD). With the growing population that is pushing the expansion of Eldoret town – which is currently an economic, education, sports, health and a transport hub for at least 23 counties in the North Rift region and Western Kenya, this Uasin Gishu’s capital is the best bet for your investment. The Eldoret CBD is comprised of FOUR major streets where you can be sure your investment of whatever kind will give you maximum returns. Here are the four major streets in Eldoret CBD: Ronald Ngala Street When you are coming into Eldoret town from Nairobi through Nakuru Highway, this is the first street you will come across as you enter the CBD. Just at the start of Ronald Ngala Street is the iconic Barng’etuny plaza – one of the oldest buildings in the town. Opposite it is several banks including Bank of Africa, Sidian Bank and Cooperative Bank. Other key fac...
Post a Comment
Read more

How Women Can Protect Their Property Rights After Marriage

By
They say property has no gender, but history shows a different reality, where property ownership has favoured men. This inequality is still evident, especially when it comes to inheritance after the death of a spouse.  Even though Kenya’s 2010 Constitution guarantees equal rights for men and women, many women still struggle to secure their rights to property. So, how can women make sure their rights are respected after marriage? Baoriat Agencies explains six key ways to ensure fair property distribution in case of death or separation. 1. Registering Jointly Owned Property  When a couple buys property together, it’s important to register it under both names. This guarantees that the other automatically inherits the property if one partner dies. Make sure both names are clearly listed on the title deed as co-owners. 2. Joint Tenancy or Tenancy-in-Common There are two ways to share property: Joint tenancy : If one partner dies, the other automatically becomes the sole owner. Tena...
Post a Comment
Read more

List of Popular Gated Community Estates in Eldoret Town

By
  Eldoret town is home to over 10 residential estates that house all types of people – from the lower class to the affluent. Some of the popular estates include Kapsoya, Langas, Kimumu, Huruma and Annex among many others while there are several other upcoming residential estates like Juniorrate, Action and Pioneer which are not yet fully developed. Apart from the above-mentioned estates, we also have several gated estates, accommodating the rich and affluent in Eldoret. Also Read:  List of Estates within Eldoret Municipality A gated community is a form of residential  community  or housing estate containing strictly controlled entrances for pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles, and often characterized by a closed perimeter of walls and fences. We take at some of the popular ones in Eldoret town, most of which house the affluent. Kenmsosa Village This is a gated community estate that houses not only residential homes but also has a resort. Kenmosa village ...
1 comment
Read more