​

Pomp and color characterized Tugenin Cultural festival which was held on Monday at Onobmoi, Kerio Valley Baringo County.

The Community which lives along the Tugen hills and Kerio valley displayed their rich culture through songs, poems and dressing.

Both the young and old throng the event to witness and learn their forgotten diverse cultures to revive and embrace their culture.

Choreographed presentations through songs which passed messages how the community named their children, made rain, greeted each other, artifacts used by the community, regalia used in different cultural functions among many others.

Leaders who were present in the event called on for the community to embrace back their diverse cultures .Led by Baringo Central Member of Parliament Sammy Mwaita said with the way the world is evolving with technology and education someone may tend to forget his or her culture which is dangerous since culture defines a person.

“For years the Tugens have been eroded by western culture which is dangerous since culture defines a person and we appeal to everyone to stick to his or her own culture as the swahili saying goes ‘Mwacha mila ni mtumwa’,”said Baringo Central Member of Parliament Sammy Mwaita.

He also urged the community to shun retrogressive cultures such as cattle rustling and female genital mutilation since it is harmful.

“Culture unites and can be used to bring peace in cattle rustling areas in this county. We want Tugen,Pokot,Ilchamus to come together and shun retrogressive cultures like cattle rustling and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) can be eliminated, “said Mwaita.

The calls came even as attacks were witnessed in parts of the county where bandits who are believed to be from Tiaty constituency attacked Kiserian and Elgeyo Marakwet County leaving one dead and thousands fleeing their homes.

“Not everything that is cultural is acceptable and our community should just let FGM and rustling go .The girl child should be given opportunity to express herself through education, “said Purity Jepkurui from Elgeyo Marakwet.

The annual event saw Hundreds of people from Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet county grace the event that is organized by Kiberur Tomno.

“The core objective of the festival is to remind the Tugen community what our people used to do before, embrace and relish it through songs and dance, “said Tomno.