Bull, she goat await royal baby in Samburu

Posted by: The People in National July 25, 2013 0 52 Views

By MARTIN MURITHI

The birth of Cate Middleton and Prince William’s royal baby boy was received with joy and celebrations in Wamba District of Samburu County where a fattened black bull and she goat await him as gifts. The two, which have been herded with great care for some time at the Mathew Ranges Farm, will be presented as gifts by the Namunyak Women Group from Ilpachie village.

The connection between the community and the Royal Family traces back to 2004 when Prince William was a guest in the home of Lekasiele Leshore, 91, the father of the current Samburu governor Sammy Leshore. As per Samburu traditions, once a child is born women visit the newborn with gifts and name him and the case for the royal baby was not different this Tuesday.

“Since the Prince was pleased with our place we now feel he is one of us and we have to give him respect like our other sons. Apart from the bull and the she-goat we have made special bead ornaments among them necklaces, two hand wrists, two leg ankle and a waist band for the baby,” said a member of the Ilpachie village women group Neden Lasangurukuri.

They said a visit to Ilpachie village by Prince William when he was holidaying at the nearby Sarara tented camp made him a special guest to them. Linna Masi Leshore a member said women served him while others danced for him before he went back to the tented camp. She adds he would severally join the Samburu morans for a bull feasting at the top of the Mathews range and then visit Mzee Lekasiele Leshore’s home having been invited by the senator.

Leshore said Prince William’s visit left an enthralling feeling of African affection between the royal family and the village. The Ilpachie village women said that if he wishes, the Prince can invite them so that they can present the gifts and if not possible he can tour the village to receive the gifts on behalf of his son or wait till he is a grown up so he can come and pick the gifts personally. They say they shall take great of the she-goat and bull and keep their offspring for the royal baby.