Pre-Colonial Political Organization of the Kalenjin of Kenya:An Overview

The most striking features of History of Africa in the 19^th century especially East Africa which is believed to be the cradleland of mankind is the phenomenon of state formation. The century was therefore an exciting time, a time when various groups faced challenges of growth and in some few cases decay which was mainly influenced by their political organization. Kalenjin are descendants of migrants from the Nile River area of the Sudan or the western Ethiopian highlands. It is thought the ancestors of these Highland Nilotes were moving from their Nile River areas about 3000 years ago.  The ancestors of the Kalenjin were established in approximately their current areas by about A.D. 500. This is a community with well-established decentralized system of government led by council of elders, the political organization of this Nilotic community unique and enriches the History of Kenyan societies in the pre-colonial period.