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14-525: The origin of the word is unknown though Huntingford (1927) speculates that the word orkoiyot derives from two words "ooo" (big ) and "koot"(house) hence the big house. It's also speculated that it means 'or,' signifying 'road' or 'way,' and 'koi' denotes 'long,' thus translating to 'long road/way.' The word predates the office it would represent among the Nandi as evinced by its presence in other Kalenjin communities e.g. Kony (orkōan, orkōandet) and Suk (werkoiyon). It

28-637: A means of studying the settlement and formation of the Nandi sub-tribe of the Kalenjin. Like the wider Kalenjin Occupation of the Rift , a look at the individual Nandi clan histories shows that the narrative of origin, though containing elements of truth, largely over simplifies the formation of the Nandi sub-tribe. The Nandi sub-tribe was formed through the settlement of the Nandi region by members of various Kalenjin clans from different regions. The traditional Nandi account

42-456: A period of a dual administration during the time of Arap Kipsegun and Kopokoii until the former was ousted. The Orkoiik were recognized across Nandi as being at the head of the governance system. They did not however play a large role in the affairs of everyday life; which were handled by the Kiruogik , heads of the districts and direct representatives of the people. The Kiruogindet (pl. Kiruogik)

56-605: A war with the Nandi while pregnant. She later bore two sons, Kopokoii and Barsapotwa, while hiding in caves near Keben in the Mogobich Valley. Moki and her sons, the former who would become the first Orkoiyot of the second and last dynasty, were captured and adopted into the Talai clan . The Talai are a widespread Kalenjin clan and among the Nandi are aligned with the Lion Totem. The Orkoinotet lasted for over fifty years and went through

70-592: Is a kinship group among the Kalenjin people of Kenya that is similar in concept to a clan. The members of an oreet were not necessarily related by blood as evidenced by the adoption of members of the Uasin Gishu Maasai by Arap Sutek, the only Nandi smith at the time. His proteges would later be adopted into almost every other clan as smiths. More famously, the lineage of the Talai Orkoiik were adopted members of

84-507: Is that the first settlers in their country came from Elgon, and formed the Kipoiis clan; a name that possibly means 'the spirits'. They were led by a man named Kakipoch , founder of the Nandi section of the Kalenjin. They are said to have settled in the emet (county) of Aldai in south-western Nandi. Kakipoch's people were later joined by a few Kipsikis, who were then followed by people from the other Kalenjin branches. The account of settlement by

98-405: The 17 clans present in the early decades of the 20th century is as follows; The Nandi ortinuek are each identified by an 'animal' or tiondo, which no clan member could hunt. Clan symbols (tiondo) range from birds, wild animals, frog and snake to bees. Although the sun is not an animal, 'she' has oreet and is called 'tiondo' in the same sense as a lion. It is claimed that Kong'ony (crested crane)

112-544: The Segelai Maasai. Membership and identification by Oreet traditionally served the purpose of regulating marriage (by prevent inbreeding since marriage within Oreet was largely not permitted), arbitrating in murder cases and a support system when payment of blood money was required. In modern Kenya, identification by oreet is declining among the Nandi and Kalenjin. However oreet histories have consequently gained prominence as

126-495: The clan are Kapcherige, Kaptot, and Kapcheptembur. Lelwek is normally praised in Kaprotuk, by their daughters but during Koito (prewedding). Solobchot is widely mentioned (less praised). Others use Lelwot interchangeably with Kaprotuk and Kapchebwai and regard each other as "oor mwendo". Earlier grandfathers especially from Kaprotuk were worried that the two families of Kaprotuk and Kapchebwai would "moiyo tiondo" (each will claim Lelwot

140-495: The new clan', to mean a woman has no clan, the Tungo girls are permitted to retain their clan identity. Kiboiis is the largest clan in Nandi. It comprises two tottems ("tiondo"): Solopchot (cockroach), also known as Mende Keruus and Lelwot (jackal), which was praised as "cherotei keringet agenge en kabula" (believed to be Keppler), which is Oreetab Kibois. Kibois is used largely by two families: Kaprotuk and Kapchebwai. Other families with

154-558: Was originally applied to a class of wizards who were perceived to be of a benevolent nature and were thus tolerated and were distinct from ponik, a class of wizards who were perceived to only be evil. Huntingford (1972) notes that the men-folk of the Kamwaike oret were the traditional orkoiik in Nandi before the Masai family of Kapuso took the pre-eminence from them. The office that the Orkoiyot held

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168-453: Was referred to as the Orkoinotet and was established among the Nandi by Kipsegun, a Segelai Maasai . The abilities that distinguished an Orkoiyot were hereditary and thus the office passed on to his son Arap Kipsegun though their dynasty was short-lived and ended with the son. The second dynasty was founded through a woman named Moki chebo Cheplabot, the wife of a Maasai Laibon who fled during

182-461: Was spokesman or counselor chosen by the people in each district ( pororiet ). They were responsible to the Orkoiyot through the Maotiot for the good governance of their respective districts and the enrollment of troops in time of war. The Orkoiyot appointed one Maotiot (pl. Maotik) in each district to represent the Orkoiyot at the district level. Oreet The Oreet (pl. Ortinuek or Ortinweek)

196-511: Was the first animal allocated a family. Hence Moi (Kong'ony) is regarded as the 'leader' and in child stories this is shown as the source of babies in a family. The Hyena (Kimageet, oreet of Tungo, korap oor) is claimed to have been the last tiondo to be allocated and comes along with several rules of favour (ostensibly to hide the fact that it was the last). Hence, even though the Nandi claim 'Cheptaab oreet age ne wendi oreet age' literally 'a daughter from one clan goes to another clan and belongs in

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