About

The Sirikwa were an iron age culture that inhabited the Uasin Gishu plateau and whose territories spread across the former Rift Valley Province.

They emerged as a distinct culture in the central Rift Valley from about the 10th century and possibly as early as the 7th century A.D. The culture was the result of an iron age evolution of the Pastoral Neolithic Elementaitan culture.

By the 12th century, the Sirikwa had spread their territories from the Central Rift, across the Mau-Nyanza, the Western Highlands, Cherangani Hills and Mt. Elgon areas in both Kenya and Uganda.¹

Evidence

Their presence is preserved in the archaeological record in the form of numerous circular pits, commonly called Sirikwa Holes, that are found in Uasin Gishu and surrounding counties.

Time Period

Based on radio carbon dating of Sirikwa archaeological sites, the Sirikwa time period is believed to have been between the 12th and the 18th/19th centuries A.D. The origins of their culture however can be traced back to the 7th century A.D.²

Cultural Characteristics

The faunal remains recovered at Sirikwa sites, particularly their original settlements in the central Rift, are mostly comprised of the remains of domestic animals (cows, goats and sheep) and bear almost no evidence of agricultural pursuits. This suggests that the Sirikwa society were a highly specialized pastoral community that practiced very little or no farming.³

An analysis of the age of the domestic animal remains shows that almost half of Sirikwa cattle died in the last quarter of their life cycle. This rearing of cattle to maturity suggests a herd management strategy focused on growth, with more food being contributed in the form of milk rather than meat.⁴

By inference and by observation of contemporary pastoral communities in the region, herds were also managed for social and cultural obligations. These include slaughter during ritual and merry making ceremonies, initiation, acquisition of wives, payments of ransom etc.⁵