Rendille

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The Rendille are a cushitic speaking ethnic group inhabiting the Southern parts of the former larger Marsabit District[currently Laisamis District] of Upper Eastern Province of Kenya.They also inhibit the south eastern and southern regions of Mt. Marsbit in the current Marsabit Central District .They are often referred to as "the holders of the stick of God".

They are nomadic pastoralists who roam with their camels, goats and most recently cattle across about 16,000 square kilometers of Northern Kenya. Women, children, and older men live in semi-permanent villages that are moved only a few times a year and rarely more than a few kilometers.

The Rendille believe that they belong in the desert not by mistake but because its their "promised land". In their popular morning prayers they pray "your people Wakh (God) cannot climb mountains, cross seas but remain in this promised land in which You have looked after our fore fathers, us and our children's children....".the Rendilles are confined to the desert because their most treasured livestock, the camel, cannot survive in cold mountaineous and clay soil environment.

Rendille staple foods include meat, and a mixture of milk and blood, commonly known as "Banjo",although they have now adopted other foodstuffs like maize flour, rice and beans. Men traditionally dress by tying a loin cloth around their loins while women dress in sheep and goat skins tied around their waists going down while the trunk remains naked. Circumcised boys and young men who have not yet undergone 'Ennui', the rite into adulthood at age 30 whereby men become Elders and are granted ownership of land, wear purple cloth and a white feather in their headgear. This switches to a Tartan pattern among acceptance as an Elder. Warriors are very aware of their headgear and will become upset if it is touched by another tribal member, especially a woman. Many Rendille have appropriated western clothing and are commonly seen wearing kikoys and t-shirts.

Rendilles practice gadaa, a system of age sets fourteen years apart. An age set is a group of men circumcised together and remain in the warriorhood for 14 years before they are allowed to marry and give way to another age set. Since 1962, there have been six age set namely; ILMAURI, ILKIMANIGI, ILKICHILI[TERIA], ILKIRORO, ILMAULI and the current age set, who are scheduled to be circumcised in August 2007, ILMETILI. Rendille culture is built on strict separation of the sexes during important cultural and spiritual practices. Women are not allowed to talk or fraternize with men, and traditionally are shunned from major religious events outside of courtship rituals.

Rendilles are believed to be alienated and experts believe the pure Rendille language speakers are confined to the two towns of Kargi and Korr.The rest of towns[settlements] especially those bordering the two Samburu Districts speak more Samburu than Rendille Language. 'Rendille language' especially is under threat from Samburu, one of the Maa languages. Attempts to revive /rescue this literature rich language through introduction of 'mother tongue' subject in the lower Primary Classes in all those areas which use the Samburu language as their media of communication have been futile. Few schools have been built in the earlier years ,the first lot go to school in this community were registered in the late sixties and the meaning of education has been well seen through the leadership of the late Hon. Titus L Ngoyoni,MP, who was among the second and larger group of boys who were taken to school,the late had put effort to add more school projects through CDF, well wishers and any new donations will definitely make changes and will help the Rendilles of Northern Kenya.