BATTLE OF MIGORI/MOGORI

 THE BATTLE OF MOGORI - 1889
 By the middle of the nineteenth century, the Kipsigis had established themselves as a "force to reckon with"
he fate of the Kipsigis warriors that led to death of tens of them in Mogori valley in Kisii was as a result of a sin that they committed earlier in Siyiapei. They mistreated, injured and even led to deaths of some women after a botched cattle raid. The curse against their evil deeds was repaid more expensively under the reign the Kipsigis Oloiboni Arap Koilege.
One day the Kipsigis prepared a great raid on the Gusii.
As a requirement before any raid, Cheramgo Arap Chemwa of Kipindoek clan ( who lived at kamirai village- married to eight wives and reared sheep) sought the blessings and consent of Arap Koilegen but the prophet advised them against raiding Mogori. But the brave warriors disobeyed the directive and proceeded. The omen was bad. Vultures hoovered over their heads but they dismissed and claimed that they were waiting to eat their dead enemies. Young boys were enlisted to drive the cattle home, and women were also enlisted to carry away the captured stores of food. The raiding party was headed by Malabun arap Makiche from Sotik. At Buret, Chesengeny arap Kaborok and his warriors joined the band. At Belgut more warriors joined. Most of the young men were of the Kapkoimet age-set, while the older ones were Sawe" the march, which started in the afternoon, reached Gusii country at dusk. As they marched they were followed by a large number of vultures - a sure sign of bad luck. Chesengeny tried to convince Malabun to abandon the raid but Malabun would have none of it. In Gusii-land the first phase of the raid (in Mugirango and Kitutu) was successful, and they destroyed many Gusii villages, but then things began to go wrong, Two leaders of the Kipsigis raiders disagreed, and as a result one party returned home, while the other, led by Malabun Arap Makiche, went on to raid the Luo.

Back in the hills the Gusii were blowing their horns and drumming to summon all their warriors. Knowing that the Kipsigis had crossed to Luo-land the Gusii laid a trap for them. By the early hours of the morning the Gusii warriors were lining the eastern edge of Manga Escarpment in ambush.

At dawn a large "kelele" was heard, it was the Luo chasing the Kipsigis raiders. As the Kipsigis started to ascend the escarpment along the valley of the Charachani River, they fell upon the Gusii at Getwanyi in Kitutu. The Luo arrived at the battleground when the fight had already started. With both the Luo and Gusii at battle, and with the well laid Gusii ambush, the Kipsigis force was practically wiped out. Very few managed to escape. It is said that some of the survivors hid among the corpses of their fellow tribesmen, others jumped into the rivers and hid in the swamps until nightfall. During the nightfall they escaped back to Kipsigis land. The younger brother of arap chemwa (barkuto) who had just got married before going for the raid was killed and his widow was adopted by arap chemwa making his number of wife nine.

So great was the loss of life that the Kipsigis elders ordered the 'premature' initiation of young boys into warriorhood, and encouraged young men to marry early so as to increase the population of the tribe.

The Gusii, who had never before achieved such a victory, the Kipsigis call it Battle of Mogori.
 A year after the battle, there was famine in kisii that almost wipped out members of that community. Whereas there was famine in kisii, the kipsigis had plenty of food.
Given that the kisiis were dying of hunger and on the other hand the kipsigis had plenty to spare the kisiis decided to barter their young men for food. Other young men were given for free if only to survive. This giving of young men to the kipsigis to fill up the loss occassioned at the battle of mogori explains why 7 kipsigis clans have blood relationship with kisii clans. Clans like matabori is what kisiis call Botabori. Similarly Mabasi is called Bobasi in kisii etc etc.