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Kenya: Burnt Forest Lives Up to Its Name in Times of Turmoil
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The Nation (Nairobi)
8 May 2008
Posted to the web 8 May 2008
Barnabas Bii
Nairobi
The Shakespearean saying on "what is in a name?" does not ring a bell to most residents of Uasin Gishu District, who have said No to Burnt Forest.
They have resolved to change the name of the area to find a long-term solution to recurrent tribal clashes, which have always been marked by burning of houses and property.
Mention the name and what strikes the mind of anyone familiar with the area is ethnic animosity and soaring crime rate.
Located 40km from Eldoret Town, on Eldoret-Nakuru highway, the otherwise agriculturally-rich area has witnessed violence virtually every General Election since 1992. Indeed, the residents now associate general elections with bad omen.
The locals also link the name to an unchecked crime rate. Hardly a week passes without an attack in the area.
Podo trees
Disturbed by the negative attitudes associated with the name, Kalenjin and Kikuyu elders held a meeting to rename Burnt Forest Tarakwa, its original name.
"Fate has been against us since the name was changed from Tarakwa to Burnt Forest.
"We have witnessed all sorts of crime associated with the name, and it is high time it was changed to relief us of such atrocities," says Samuel Kosgei.
According to the locals, the area gained the name Burnt Forest after colonialists set several hectares of podo trees - known as tarakwa to the locals - on fire to facilitate the construction of the Kenya-Uganda railway.
"The area lost its original name after the colonialists set up a trading centre along the current Eldoret-Nakuru highway and named it Burnt Forest due to the large plantation of podo trees consumed by the fire," says Mzee Felix Barngetuny, 78, from the neighbouring Kondoo farm.
The residents now claim the name Burnt Forest was haunting them and renaming it Tarakwa would cast away evil spirits associated with it.
Criminal activities
"It was wrong for the colonialists to do away with the original name of the area, without consulting the locals. Despite having no meaningful attachment, it has done us more harm than good," laments Esther Kosgei.
Several names including Lelgeldo, Koiwo-Assrusen and Kondoo were floated during the renaming but elders finally settled on Tarakwa due to its historical significance and political relevance.
"Renaming the area Tarakwa will act as unifying factor among various communities in the area.
"It was wrong for the colonialists to call it Burnt Forest which has been in been associated with criminal activities," says Pastor Eric Kamau, who was behind the renaming of the area.
The area is mainly occupied by Kalenjins and Kikuyus.
"There have been claims by members of both ethnic groups to own the name -Burnt Forest, resulting in recurrent tribal animosity, especially during the General Election, and renaming it will help resolve the differences," said James Maina, a resident of Rirugi farm.
More than 100 people were killed and thousands displaced in the area in the recent post-election violence sparked by the disputed presidential polls.
"Renaming of Burnt Forest is part of the reconciliation process by the two ethnic groups. It is fair that it is named Tarakwa as it was the original name by the Kalenjins," adds Pastor Kamau.
And as some of the displaced people start returning to their farms, it is not known if the renaming of Burnt Forest will facilitate healing by those affected by the political chaos.
Previous homes
As the Government embarks on the resettlement of the internal refugees in Rift Valley, renaming of farms and buildings owned by outsiders has taken priority.
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Farms and buildings with foreign names have been given local ones to give them identity, a condition set by the locals before accepting the displaced people back to their previous homes.
Kiambaa farm, which was the theatre of violence in January and February has been renamed Kipnyigei.
Thirty people, mainly women and children were burnt to death in a church in the area at the beginning of January.
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