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Standing tall on a cliff in the mountainous Rift Valley, Nandi Hills Town has a unique setting.

The enchanting canopies together with the quiet flowing rivers add to the town’s picturesque environment.

Against all odds, the town is evolving into a celebrated tourism destination.

Leaders and residents in Nandi Hills are thrilled about their environment and what they anticipate will be a tourism boom in the near future.

Their expectations are pegged on the recently unveiled cultural tourism opportunities.

The prospects for a tourist boom have been buoyed by the construction of a multi-million mausoleum in honour of Nandi legend, Orgoiyot Koitalel arap Samoei.

"Our fortunes will change and the town will grow when tourists begin coming. Our fortunes will equally change," said an elder, Mr Lelei arap Kosgey.

The money was given out in respect of the freedom fighter and pre-colonial hero who has become part of national heritage.

The country recollected its colonial history three years ago when President Kibaki visited Nandi and ordered that a mausoleum be built in honour of Koitalel.

Koitalel led the Nandi resistance against colonial occupation and was killed on October 19, 1905.

In 2005, President Kibaki and members of the Nandi community in the Diaspora commemorated centenary celebrations of the murder of Koitalel by British imperialists.

It was the first time since Koitalel’s killing that the celebrations were held.

They were marked at a shrine where the headless remains of the fallen hero are believed to have been buried a century ago.

The function was organised by a newly established Koitalel arap Samoei Nandi Foundation (KSNF) led by the director, Mr Stephen Sugut.

During the fete, Kibaki announced that the Government would allocate half an acre of land for Koitalel’s shrine.

Months later, funds were released from the Heritage Ministry for the construction of a mausoleum.

The then Heritage minister, Mr Suleiman Shakombo, announced that apart from Koitalel’s artifacts, the mausoleum would house Nandi literature and artifacts to preserve the community’s history.

The State also allocated 103 acres of land at the former Agricultural Development Cooperation (ADC) farm at Kimwani near Nandi Hills town where an education centre is to be established.

Work has not begun at the proposed site, with some community leaders suggesting that a constituent college of the nearby Moi University be set up at the place.

The Standard has established that the modern mausoleum will be guarded round the clock.

It stands under a canopy of two baobab trees known in the local dialect as simotwet, a fewmetres from Koitalel’s cemented grave and a traditional hut known as ‘Got’ and a granary or ‘Choget’.

The granary and the hut were constructed ahead of the centenary celebrations and are today well equipped with traditional artifacts.

Community records have been stored at a permanent building that formally housed the Nandi Hills Medical Officer of Health.

Elders in the community and Koitalel’s family contributed the artifacts.

The collections were spiced up by the return of Koitalel’s leadership batons, which had been taken to Britain by the colonial Government and stored at a British museum.

So rich is the shrine with traditional artifacts that KSNF officials say they may be compelled to look for more space to display more equipment.

"We receive so many young people here who are particularly keen on knowing tools of work the community used," said Lelei.

Among the artifacts returned from Britain include a baton that Koitalel used before he was shot dead by Col Menheirtzergen at Get Barak village, the present day Nandi Hills.

Koitalel’s Talai clan and his descendants have claimed the legend was beheaded and his head taken by British soldiers.

Scholars from the community, led by Britain-based Kipnyango Seroney, who assisted in the recovery of the batons, are said to be pursuing the recovery of the legends sandals and head gear.

Koitalel led a seven-year resistance war against the British colonialists and protected the land rights of the Nandi community.

That was before he was tricked into attending a peace meeting where he was shot.

The leadership batons that have been enclosed in a wooden case with a glass cover include the nogirwet, which Koitalel used during peace meetings.

Also in the case is another baton, sharit, which was used as a walking stick, while the third, emtit, was used within the homestead.

Different forms of bows and arrows, Kwanget ak Kipchabok, used in different forms of activities have also been preserved.

Most materials found inside the mausoleum are made of copper and, are said to have been designed by blacksmiths from the community.

At the traditional hut, artifacts have been perfectly organised according to their functions in the Nandi cultures. Also around the compound are traditional herbs used as medicine. Its compound is graced with Sinendet plants, a traditional herbal tree used to signify success.

The plant remains significant to date and is usually wrapped around shoulders during ceremonies.

Also at the compound are palm trees, Sosiot, which are normally planted in homes during ceremonies.

Inside the homestead, more than a hundred artifacts used in war, ornaments and animal branding tools are displayed.

As you enter, there is a spear, ngotit, used by the elders when they are giving counsel to those going to raids.

There are also other artifacts, which include branding materials for animals, mecheita, that can imprint different signs on animals for identification.

Most materials found inside the house are made of copper and are said to have been designed by blacksmiths from the community.

In the homestead are earrings made of copper.

Those covered with leather include cowrie shells and a horn or brout that was used to keep tobacco by the old men.

During a recent visit to Nandi North and Nandi South districts, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director, Julius Kipngetich said the area is endowed with under exploited tourist sites.

Just near Nandi Hills is the Kingwal Swamp, which is home to a rare aquatic antelope species, the Sitatunga.

In the Bonjoge game reserve owned by the Nandi county council are rare animals, trees and birds. There are also North and South forests.

Kipngetich said the area had valued forests and good sceneries that could be taken advantage of to promote agro-tourism, especially owing to expanded tea farming.

He said local authorities in the district should develop infrastructure to tap tourism earnings. The tourism sub sector remains a top foreign exchange earner.