BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH ESSAY QUESTION 1
1. Basing your illustrations on Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay to negate the saying
“Blood is thicker than water” (20 marks)
BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH ESSAY QUESTION 2
Actions by some characters in Blossoms of the Savannah tend to negate the saying ‘blood is thicker
than water.’ We expect family bonds to be the strongest and the loyalty to be true yet that is not the
case. Ole Kaelo and Mama Milanoi put their daughters Taiyo and Resian through harrowing
experiences and ironically, they get help from strangers such as Nabaru and Minik ene Nkoitoi.
Trying to achieve something difficult relentlessly and resolutely always results in success. In other
words, steadfastness pays off. In Blossoms of the Savannah Resian’s strength of will pays off when she
beats all the challenges and manages to go to the university against all odds. She breaks the shackles of
unsupportive parents, archaic cultural practices of FGM and early marriages and cruel patriarchal
beliefs to achieve her dream of enrolling at Egerton University.
Ole Kaelo’s actions go against the saying blood is thicker than water. Although he is Resian’s father,
he abhors her for no apparent reason. Ole Kaelo intimidates Resian so much and she only finds solace
in her sister Taiyo. Ole Kaelo teams up with Oloisudori to hatch an evil plan to kidnap Resian,
anesthetize her and have her circumcised should she turn down Oloisudori’s proposal. He is against her
ambitions of joining Egerton University with the intention of marrying her off to an old man she hates.
This indeed negates the saying; blood is thicker than water.
Mama Milanoi’s actions also negate the saying blood is thicker than water. In the face of Resian’s
constant intimidation by her own father, Mama Milanoi fails to protect her. Resian constantly rushes to
Taiyo for a shoulder to lean on. She also deceives Taiyo using Resian’s plight, to accompany the three
women to Esoit where she is savagely circumcised against her will. Surprisingly, Taiyo is rescued by
Joseph Parmuat, who is not a blood relative; sadly, he loses his life. Indeed, this is a testament that
family bonds may sometimes be the weak link in a relationship.
Taiyo’s experiences in Nasila prove that sometimes family ties are not the strongest ties. Her father is
clearly inconsiderate of her feelings and needs when he denies her a chance to attend a music
extravaganza in Mombasa. When she is kidnapped, help comes from unexpected quarters. She is
rescued by Minik ene Nkoitoi’s team. Joseph Parmuat, a distant clan member, sacrifices himself for
Taiyo’s sake when her parents seem indifferent. Indeed; this negates the saying blood is thicker than
water.
Lastly, Nabaru the enkabaani cares for Resian more than her mother does. Resian even calls her a “God
given mother”. Although they are not related, Nabaru proves to be caring and motherly. She tends to
Resian following the nasty beating she received from Olarinkoi. When her father tries to forcefully
marry her off to Oloisudori, Resian escapes to Inkiito with the help of Olarinkoi; little does she know
that he has ulterior motives. He attempts to rape her and hurts her badly. During her 3 weeks stay at
Inkiito, Resian receives tender care in terms of medical attention and food from Nabaru. She is not
only a loving and caring mother to her, but also a valuable friend and confidant. She also rescues her
from the hands of Olarinkoi and his evil mother Enkoiboni despite the fact that she has been paid
handsomely in order to be part of the scheme. This also negates the popular belief that blood is thicker
than water.
To sum up, Mama Milanoi and Ole Kaelo prove that family members can turn out to be our greatest
enemies and occasionally help comes from people who are not necessarily related to us.
2. Determination leads to victory. Write an essay to qualify this claim basing your illustration on
H.E Ole Kulet’s Blossoms of the Savannah (20 marks)
Resian is determined to join Egerton University to pursue a course in Veterinary Medicine, a dream she
manages to achieve. From the onset, Resian is resolute about her ambition of joining Egerton
University. She obstinately urges her sister to talk to their father about their prospect of returning to
Nakuru to enroll at Egerton University. Although her father does not support this, she still fights
determinedly until she achieves her dream. Her determination makes her trust Olarinkoi who has
promised to take her to Ntare-naaju ranch to meet Emakererei who is to aid her pursue her dream. The
journey is tumultuous but she beats all odds and finally departs for Egerton on 5th September.
Resian is determined to cheat the cultural expectations and remain uncircumcised, a feat she manages
to achieve. When Ole Kaelo relocates to Nasila from Nakuru, there is immense pressure on him to
circumcise his girls to evade the derogatory title of father to intoiye nemengalana (uncircumcised
girls). He is torn between the Nasila culture and his daughter’s liberty and needs. Some men like Ole
Supeyo circumcised all their girls and married them off to prominent men in Nasila. He says that
women have to be circumcised to control their wild nature. Ole Musanka, a dignified elder insists that
girls must be circumcised. Other women like
Enkamuratani, Enkasakatoni and Enkaitoyoni also vehemently support the cut. She risks her life by
blindly trusting Olarinkoi with sheer need to escape the cut. She manages to escape from Nasila to
Ntare-naaju albeit through difficult situations. Eventually, she escapes both FGM and early marriage.
Resian also manages to escape the suffocating chains of patriarchy when accosted by Oloisudori; she
manages to escape forced marriage to an old man due to her steely steadfastness. Oloisudori hatches a
heartless plan to have Resian kidnapped and even anesthetized if need be. He plans to forcefully have
her circumcised and to marry her as a sixth wife. He manages to arm twist Ole Kaelo into accepting the
deal by using gifts including 500,000 shillings and a mansion for Resian in Milimani-Nakuru. Resian
is neither lured nor sucked in by Oloisudori’s pompous show of financial might. She calls him mad and
says she can only marry him over her dead body. Even though Oloisudori, Ole Kaelo and Mama
Milanoi conspire to have her married to Oloisudori, her sheer determination helps her to avoid this.
Resian manages to fight off Olarinkoi who is led to believe that their impending marriage is destiny as
prophesied by her diviner mother. She prophesied that Olarinkoi would live with the Kaelos and later
marry one of his daughters. He kidnaps her and hides her in a dungeon in the sleepy village of Inkiito
after deceiving her. He even tries to rape her. Resian’s courage and determination is seen when she
fights bravely and bites him badly while defending herself. She endures harrowing life in Olarinkoi’s
hut that is crawling with rats, lizards and snakes. She remembers the Biblical story of Job and how he
triumphed because of perseverance. Eventually she manages to escape with the help of Nabaru the
enkabaani. Inspired by her bravery and determination, Nabaru walks through the dangerous Inkiito
terrain until she finds and convinces a lorry driver to make a detour in order to help Resian. Finally, she
meets Minik ene Nkoitoi, who helps her to enroll at Egerton University.
Resian beats all odds and achieves her dreams. Surely, determination leads to victory.
BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH ESSAY QUESTION 5
5. “Bad deeds always go unrewarded.” Write a composition to support this assertion basing your
illustration on HR Ole Kulet’s Blossoms of the Savannah. (20 Marks)
Mama Milanoi selfishly guards her marriage at the expense of her daughter’s happiness. She is a
conservative conformist who remains subservient and fails to protect Taiyo and Resian. When they
move to Nasila, she is delighted since her daughters would be married by prominent men. She is,
however, stuck between the devil and the deep, blue sea of either losing her daughters’ faith and love
or going against the Nasila traditions. She deceives Taiyo and aids three women to abduct her and
whisk her away to Esoit village where she is forcibly and brutally circumcised. She hopes to have her
married to Oloisudori so that they keep the business contracts and maintain the enviable living
standards in Nasila. Her plan fails since Taiyo is rescued by Minik ene Nkoitoi’s team and taken to
Ntare-naaju where she joins other girls. Resian and she swear never to be subservient like their mother!
Indeed, bad deeds always go unrewarded.
In conclusion, bad deeds never bear any fruits instead the perpetrators fail terribly.
Individuals who commit atrocities more often than not fail to achieve whatever they are trying to
achieve. Some individuals do shocking or cruel things due to their selfishness but they never succeed.
In Blossoms of the Savannah, Olarinkoi, who tries to rape Resian, is hurt and humiliated and he fails to
marry her. Ole Kaelo and Oloisudori’s atrocities also fail to bear fruits.
BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH ESSAY QUESTION 6
Oloisudori plans to forcefully circumcise and marry Resian against her will but he fails terribly.
Oloisudori is a sly extortionist tricks Ole Kaelo (Resian’s father) into a business partnership. After
helping Ole Kaelo secures several lucrative contracts, he demands to marry Resian forcefully. Resian
hates him since he acts suggestively when the first meet. Ole Supeyo had earlier cautioned Ole Kaelo
about his randy traits. He tries to woo her with gifts such as a golden brooch and bracelet and a
spectacular house which she duly hands back. He hatches a callous plan to have Resian kidnapped and
anesthetized should she turn down the proposal. He fails terribly since Resian calls him mad and says
he can only marry her over her dead body. Even after spending millions of shillings and using
unethical means to get a wife, Oloisudori fails to get Resian hand in marriage.
When people make decisions that are devoid of good judgement the results are usually adverse. People
like Ole Kaelo and Oloisudori suffer as a result of their rash decision.
Olarinkoi, who kidnaps Resian with a view of marrying her, is unrewarded. Olarinkoi is a wolf in
sheep’s clothing. He pretends to be a friend to the Kaelos when he lives with them. He rescues Taiyo
and Resian when Ntara and Lante try to rape them thus earning Resian’s trust. He tricks Resian into
believing that he will take her to Ntare-naaju to meet Minik ene Nkoitoi, and avoid circumcision and
marriage to Oloisudori. Instead he takes her to Inkiito village where he tries to rape her and assaults her
until she passes out. Resian’s journey to Inkiito and the stay there is harrowing. Luckily she escapes
with the help of Nabaru. Thus Olarinkoi fails to marry her. He is also forced into hiding due to shame
and nearly loses a finger when Resian almost severs it. Surely, bad deeds always go unrewarded.
Ole Kaelo’s greed for material possession does not bear fruits. Ole Kaelo is sucked in by Oloisudori’s
opulence and apparent generosity that he fails to see the danger he exposes himself and his family into.
After getting into a business partnership with Oloisudori, he is thrown into turmoil when Oloisudori
demands to marry Resian. He is faced with a dilemma of either losing his daughter’s faith and love or
losing his lucrative contracts and possibly his magnificent house. After visiting Oloisudori’s palatial
homes, Ole Kaelo chooses wealth over Resian’s happiness. He warms up to the idea of having Resian
kidnapped and anesthetized. He receives 500, 000 shillings among other gifts but fails to have Resian
marry Oloisudori. She runs away from home leaving his father confused! His evil plans prove futile.
6. Irresponsible decisions can lead to serious consequences. Referring closely to H.R. Ole Kulet's
Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay in support of this statement.
Ole Kaelo makes an irresponsible decision when he engages in business with Oloisudori. When Ole
Kaelo is retrenched from Agribix Limited, he chooses to relocate to Nasila, his native home, with his
family. Here, he opens a shop dealing in Agricultural products. His business is funded by Oloisudori.
Oloisudori also helps him to secure some business contracts. He helps Ole Kaelo to secure a 4 years'
contract to supply all government institutions in Nasila with agricultural inputs like fertilizer, seeds,
herbicides, fungicides et cetera. His mentor Ole Supeyo warns him against his involvement with
Oloisudori. He says that Oloisudori is corrupt. He equates him to a hyena and a randy he-goat and
cautions Ole Kaelo to keep him away from his daughters. Ole Kaelo does not heed. This decision
haunts him when Oloisudori asks for his daughter Resians' hand in marriage. Resian has to be
circumcised first. Her dream is to enrol at Egerton University. When she learns of her father's plan, she
confronts him at his shop and he slaps her, further straining their relationship. She runs to Nasila river
where she contemplates suicide. Olarinkoi finds her and promises to take her to Ntare naaju to meet
Minik ene Nkoitoi, who could help her pursue her education. Ole Kaelo's rash decision makes him to
lose his daughter. She leaves Nasila with Olarinkoi.
Mama Milanoi makes an unwise decision when she keeps a low profile when her daughters are
subjected to punitive cultural practices. When they relocate to Nasila after Ole Kaelo is retrenched,
Taiyo and Resian suffer the stigma of being labelled "intoiye nemengalana". Ole Kaelo plans to
circumcise Resian and marry her off to Oloisudori. Mama Milanoi knows that her dream is to join
Egerton university and pursue a degree in Veterinary medicine. She however fails to defend Resian
against the pressure from society to have her circumcised and married off against her will. She
succumbs to the pressure of the Nasilian culture. She knows that FGM is a tortorous and painful
experience but she still fails to speak to Ole Kaelo against it. She is privy to the details of having
Resian abducted and forcefully circumsised but she still remains silent. The painful outcome of her
subservience is that Resian esacpes from home with the help of Olarinkoi and she eventually manages
to meet Minik ene Nkoitoi and to enrol at Egerton University. Mama Milanoi loses her daughter's
trust.
Ole Kaelo suffers when he chooses to deny Resian and Taiyo a chance to pursue their education at
Egerton university. Parsimei Ole Kaelo instead asks Joseph Parmuat, a teacher, to teach them cultural
aspects of Nasila in preparation for circumcision and marriage. Resians coaxes her sister Taiyo to
speak to their father about the prospect of joining Egerton University on so many occasions, because
she burns with passion for education. When she tries to ask her father, he gets so angry at her. He
warms up to the idea of marrying her to Oloisudori. Ole Kaelo receives gifts and money from him. He
fails to protect her daughter from advances by the corrupt extortionist. Resian finally escapes from
Nasila with the help of Olarinkoi and later manages to meet Minik ene Nkoitoi who helps her to finally
leave for Nakuru to join Egerton university. Oloisudori loses her as a result.
Oloisudori errs in his decision to follow Resian and Taiyo all the way to Ntare naaju ranch. When his
first choice for a wife, Resian, runs away with Olarinkoi, the Kaelo's offer Taiyo as a replacement.
Minik's men manage to rescue her from Esoit village but not before she is circumcised. When he loses
both of them, Oloisudori pursues them upto Minik ene Nkoitoi's ranch. He knows that Minik is
referred to as 'entangoroi' or wasp but still chooses to confront her. He demands for either Resian or
Taiyo saying he has paid dowry enough for both. Minik says that she will not release them even to
their own father. She asks Oloisudori to leave. He asks his men to grab Resian and then a
pandemonium ensues. Minik's 400 workers descend upon them and clobber them thoroughly before
torching his expensive vehicles and reducing them to smouldering shells. Oloisudori loses his vehicles
and still fails to get a wife even after spending a lot of money, time and effort.
Olarinkoi makes two foolish decisions. First, he abducts Resian and then he tries to rape her. When
Resian runs away from home and is contemplating her next course of action by the Nasila River,
Olarinkoi arrives and tells her that Oloisudori's men are looking for her all over. He offers to take her
to Ntare naaju to meet Minik her icon. She complies owing to the fact that she trusts him since he has
been a regular visitor at their home and he saves Taiyo and her when the vagabonds, Ntara Muyo and
Lante, try to rape them. Olarinkoi does not keep his word. He instead takes her to Inkiito. He locks her
up in a dingy hut. That night he comes back stone drunk insisting that Resian is his wife. He mocks her
about her education and he forcefully grabs her tearing her clothes and pushing her to the bed. She
defends herself by pushing his thumb into her mouth and sinking her teeth into it until he bleeds. She
almost severes the thumb. Olarinkoi suffers physically and also emotionally when he is admonished by
his mother until he goes into hiding due to shame. Nabaru, the nurse, who was contracted by the monoeyed woman to take care of Resian after circumcision helps to rescue her when she brings a lorry
driver, who takes them to Ntare naaju. Apart from the physical and emotional pain, Olarinkoi fails to
get Resian as a wife as a result of his irresponsible decision.
Mama Milanoi makes an irresponsible decision when she tricks Taiyo into circumcision. When Resian
runs away with Olarinkoi to avoid marriage to Oloisudori, Taiyo is offered as a replacement. Mama
Milanoi allows her to accompany the three women from Esoit. They lie to Taiyo that Resian is on a
hunger strike and has gone for three days without eating. They want her to accompany them to Esoit
for Resian's sake. She complies and accompanies them happily since her mother assures her that their
father had vowed never to try to marry them by force to any man. At Esoit she is thrown into turmoil as
no one attends to her or talks about Resian. She is instead left in a dingy hut. The next morning she is
dragged out of the hut by a group of excited women, 20 litres of cold water is emptied on her head
before she is forcibly circumcised by 'enkamuratani'. The ordeal is so painful that she passes out. She is
later rescued by Minik's men with the help of Joseph Parmuat, who tricks the guards guarding her, with
alcohol. The guards attempt to chase after Minik's men,pelting them with stones, but they fail.
Parmuat is speared to death. Mama Milanoi loses Taiyo when she is taken to Minik's ranch.
Through characters like Oloisudori and Olarinkoi, we learn that foolish decisions usually lead to bad
consequences. We ought to think before we leap.
BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH ESSAY QUESTION 7
7. Write a composition to show how education brings positive change in society using illustrations
from Henry Ole Kulet's Blossoms of the Savannah.
BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH ESSAY QUESTION 8
8. An individual who is persevering and optimistic usually emerges triumphant. Referring closely to
H.R. Ole Kulet's Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay in support of this statement.
BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH ESSAY QUESTION 9
9. Misunderstanding crops up whenever a family fails to share opinions and values. Basing your
illustrations on Ole Kaelo's family, show the validity of this statement.
BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH ESSAY QUESTION 10
10. Women suffer in male-dominated societies. Write an essay to validate the truth in this assertion
basing your illustrations on Blossoms of the Savannah.
In most societies, men hold primary power and influence. Blossoms of the Savannah highlights the
problems women suffer in a male-dominated society. Resian, Taiyo, Mama Milanoi and Minik ene
Nkoitoi suffer a myriad of problems in Nasila.
Resian suffers for simply being born a girl. Ole Kaelo is infuriated when his second born child turns
out to be a girl. He had prayed for a boy and wanted at least three boys. The society values boys more
than girls. A boy would carry the Kaelo's name to the next generation Ole Kaelo offers Resian as a
sacrificial lamb when Oloisudori comes looking for a wife. As much as she knows her father hates her,
she is shocked that he has the temerity to sell her to a man she hates with a passion. Resian is always
sad and aloof owing to her father's mistreatment. Resian feels betrayed by her father and at one point
considers committing suicide. She is forced to run away from home with the help of Olarinkoi. Surely,
women in male-dominated societies suffer a great deal.
Men in Nasila use FGM to oppress women. Women are considered a wild gender that has to be tamed
through FGM. Girls who undergo FGM suffer physical and psychological pain. Uncircumcised girls
are mocked, derided and contemptuously referred to as intoiye nemengalana. Circumcised girls are
considered decent and accorded respect. The subject of FGM makes Taiyo and Resian feel squeamish,
hopeless and downcast. Resian feels that FGM is useless today and is only used by men to oppress
women. Taiyo is duped and taken to Esoit village, 5 kilometers away from Nasila, where she is forcibly
circumcised. She is dragged out of a hut, splashed with 20 litres of cold water, wrestled to the ground
and circumcised. The excruciating procedure is carried out using a bladelike tool known as olmurunya.
She faints and only regains consciousness two days later. She even imagines she had died! Even after
being rescued, she suffers bouts of sickness, restlessness, weakness and pain. This all happened in
order for her to be married off to Oloisudori since men in Nasila do not marry intoiye nemengalana.
In male-dominated societies, women suffer forced early marriages. When Resian learns that she has to
marry Oloisudori, she is thrown into a sea of agony. Forced marriage is rampant in Nasila. Oloisudori
and Olarinkoi try to marry Resian forcefully. Resian's dream is to join Egerton University. Her father,
however, plans to marry her off to Oloisudori against her will. He makes all these plans behind
Resian's back. He receives cash and gifts from Oloisudori knowing too well that Resian only values
university education. Oloisudori even considers rendering Resian unconscious should she decline his
proposal. At Inkiito, Resian realizes that many girls are married to old men. One girl is eighteen and
her husband is about seventy five. Such girls live in squalor conditions. To avoid marrying Oloisudori,
Resian runs away from home. She endures an agonising 3-week stay at Inkiito battling hostile hosts,
mosquitoes, hunger and physical injury. Surely, she suffers a lot when her father tries to marry her off
without her consent.
In Nasila, Resian and Taiyo suffer sexual exploitation since they are not circumcised. They are mocked
and chided by strangers. Two vagabonds attempt to molest them. Like most men in Nasila, Ntara and
Lante do not respect women. When they first meet, Oloisudori harasses Resian despite her being too
young for him. She describes him as an ill-mannered devil. At Inkiito, Olarinkoi unsuccessfully tries to
rape Resian. He comes home drunk as a skunk and demands for food from her. He then tries to molest
her. She fights back fiercely and bites his thumb. Olarinkoi then assaults her viciously rendering her
unconscious. For a couple of weeks that follow, Resian endures pain from the attack. Resian and Taiyo
undergo physical and emotional anguish in the hands of men who abuse their privacy.
Women in Nasila suffer because they are voiceless. Mama Milanoi is voiceless when her husband
plans to marry off Resian to Oloisudori. She cannot even dissuade him from circumcising their
daughters. In Nasila, it is men who make decisions. Mama Milanoi suffers sleepless nights pondering
in pain owing to the excruciating experience awaiting her daughters yet she remains voiceless. Mama
Milanoi is in a dilemma because she is torn between being a dutiful Maa wife and being a protective
mother to Taiyo and Resian. As a subservient Maa wife, she has little choice but to submit to her
husband and Nasila cultural dictates. She is baffled that an old man like Oloisudori could marry
Resian, something that was unheard off during her childhood days. She visits and talks to other women
like Yeiyo bottor in an attempt to avert the marriage. The thoughts of early marriage and circumcision
take her through mental torture yet the male-dominated society gags her and renders her voiceless. She
suffers in silence.
Minik ene Nkoitoi is treated contemptuously by men in Nasila. Men like Simiren and Ole Musanka
hate her passionately. She is referred to as entagoroi, a derogatory name for a sharp-tongued woman.
When she tries to stop Simiren from circumcising her daughters and marrying them off to old men, he
chases her away and almost assaults her physically. Ole Musanka curses her that “she may go down
with the setting sun”. Even women in Nasila call her a witch. Minik ene Nkoitoi suffers mistreatment
and alienation in Nasila simply because she fights archaic practices like early marriages and FGM,
which are perpetuated and fueled by men, with a view of oppressing women.
In summary, it is clear that women suffer in male dominated societies.
BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH ESSAY QUESTION 11
11. Betrayal causes pain and strain in the family. Using illustrations from Henry Ole Kulet's
Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay to validate this statement.
Good families are built on trust and love. When we fail or desert our family members, we cause them
untold grief. In Blossoms of the Savannah, Taiyo and Resian suffer when their parents betray them.
Ole Kaelo betrays his daughter Resian when he irrationally mistreats her for no apparent reason,
causing her untold grief. He fails his daughter because he detests her right from birth. He feels cheated
by nature since he had prayed for at least three boys but as fate would have it ends up with two girls.
Ole Kaelo loves his first daughter Taiyo but hates her younger sister Resian. He was utterly
disappointed when she turned out to be a girl when he prayed for a healthy baby boy to carry the
Kaelo’s name to the next generation. He is angered by her body size and intends to dispose of her as
soon as possible. Resian feels betrayed since her father intimidates her and her mother fails to protect
her from the provocations. Her only reprieve is Taiyo, who gives her a shoulder to cry on. The girls
enjoy their father's absence more than his company. Resian wonders why her father despises her so
much but does not hate Taiyo. She ponders whether it was her fault. Her father wants her to marry a
shady crook named Oloisudori by force. She argues that if her father respected her, he would have
listened when she said she disliked Oloisudori. Resian knows that her father hates her but is shocked
that he could go as far as selling her. This betrayal causes Resian misery since she was a child and she
grows up to be sullen, bewildered and resentful. She even thinks there is a curse for being born a
woman. Her nature is darkened with melancholy. The frequent tongue lashing and harshly impatient
nature from her father towards her contribute to her tempestuous disposition. She is haunted by
nagging complaints and never ending unhappiness. Sometimes she sits alone in the biting cold
brooding over her father's inexplicable hateful nature. Her sadness is compounded by the fact that he
intends to forcefully marry her off to a monster she hates, in order for his business venture to thrive.
The pain pushes her to edge until she contemplates drowning herself in Nasila River in pursuit of
peace. Surely, when a father hates his own daughter this, much the result, needless to say, is untold
suffering. (Pgs. 9-10, 34, 172-173, 205, 210)
Mama Milanoi betrays both Resian and Taiyo when she chooses to remain indifferent and aloof to her
own daughters causing them pain. At first, she has a strange premonition since her daughters are
uncircumcised yet the culture demands otherwise. She is thrown into a conundrum of either forcing the
girls to undergo FGM and losing their faith, love and confidence, or refusing to yield to tradition at the
risk of being labelled a pariah. Instead of fighting to protect her daughters when their father plans to
circumcise them, she subserviently bows to pressure and foolishly asserts that culture is everything and
it rules their lives. Now that FGM had reared its ugly head, she knows that it was going to wreak havoc
in the innocent girls’ young lives. She also knows that her daughters do not expect their own parents to
subject them to the excruciating pain and turmoil of FGM. It would be mental torture for them.
However, she remains aloof and selfish simply to protect her position as a dutiful Maa wife. She
concurs with Yeiyo Bottor that Resian has olkuenyi which can be cured through FGM. She knows that
FGM would terribly hurt the girls but she fails to protect them. She kept lying to the girls and
reassuring them that nothing sinister was in the offing as they prepared to circumcise them. She laughs
with her husband and Oloisudori as they discuss Resian's fate but a feeling of betrayal lingers in her
heart. Mama Milanoi fails Resian and Taiyo since she abandons them at the time of need. Taiyo and
Resian are angry at their mother and term her as an example of a wife they never wanted to be. She had
been held captive by her husband and could not express her own opinion unlike Nabaru and Minik ene
Nkoitoi. Resian is forced to run away from home through a harrowing journey but Taiyo pays the
ultimate price when she undergoes the excruciating pain of FGM. Surely, when a mother fails to
protect her daughters, they suffer. (Pgs. 17, 34, 60-62, 63, 78, 147, 192, 276)
Mama Milanoi tricks her daughter Taiyo into circumcision causing her pain and regret. She calls Taiyo
to greet three women visitors from a village called Esoit. They say Resian had sought refuge there after
running away from home. They need Taiyo to accompany them since Resian was on a hunger strike
and had not eaten anything for three days. They claim they pitied Resian and claim she had mentioned
Taiyo who could persuade her to eat and save her life. Since Taiyo is caring and knows Resian depends
on her for protection, she buys the story. She is happy since her mother assures her that their father had
vowed never to marry them by force to any man. This is the height of deceit and betrayal from a
mother. At Esoit, there is no sign of Resian. Taiyo is abandoned in a dingy hut and at dawn she is
dragged out, drenched with 20 litres of cold water, wrestled to the ground and forcibly circumcised.
Her screams of terror and pain fall on deaf ears. She faints and only gains consciousness two days later,
feeling sore, bitter and angry. She even imagines she had died. She is later rescued by Minik ene
Nkoitoi but still suffers bouts of pain, intensely painful headaches and weakness. It is difficult to come
to terms with the forcible circumcision. Taiyo and Resian blame their father for wanting to please
Oloisudori at the detriment of his own daughters. Their mother does not escape their ire. They think
she is the embodiment of a bad wife and mother. When a parent betrays their child, they cause the child
grief. (Pgs. 272, 274, 275, 276-277)
Ole Kaelo betrays Resian when he agrees to marry her off against her will to a wanton criminal Oloisudori, causing her untold misery. Oloisudori is a rich man who helps Ole Kaelo by financing his
business in Nasila and assists him in acquiring government contracts to supply agricultural inputs. He
then demands to marry Resian. Ole Kaelo had been retrenched from his job at Agribix limited in
Nakuru and had decided to relocate to his native Nasila to venture into business. Ole Kaelo's mentor
Soin Ole Supeyo warns him that Oloisudori was a corrupt criminal, a hyena and a randy he-goat. He
cautions him to keep the amorous man away from daughters. He does not heed the warning. Ole Kaelo
knows that it is his duty to protect and educate his daughters and it pains him to hand them over to a
man they don’t love. He foresees them crying forlornly and questioning the sincerity of his love and
the reason for his betrayal. However, he still chooses to betray and sacrifice Resian. He accepts cash
and other gifts from Oloisudori. He vows that Resian has to be married by Oloisudori and is party to an
evil scheme to abduct her in the event that she resisted. While Mama Milanoi feels they were betraying
Resian, Ole Kaelo feels happy and satisfied especially after visiting her potential husband’s palatial
homes. As they drive past Egerton University, he feels Resian was foolish for choosing education over
marriage to a wealthy man. Resian was speechless when it dawned on her that her father had sold her
to Oloisudori. She feels it was a curse being born a woman in Nasila. She knew he disliked her but
never thought her own father could sell her. She cries in anger and outrage and accuses him of betrayal
and hatred. She says it was better to die than marry her father's monstrous friend. He even slaps her
with the view of intimidating her into bowing to pressure of his demands. Resian leaves his office and
heads to Nasila River where she contemplates suicide. She instead chooses to flee from home with the
help of Olarinkoi and embarks on a harrowing, daunting journey to Ntare Naaju not knowing what
awaited her. Resian surely suffers in the wake of her father's betrayal. (Pgs. 26, 108, 111-112, 178, 185,
191-193, 204, 205, 208, 209, 210)
Ole Kaelo betrays his daughter Taiyo when he fails to support her musical aspirations. Taiyo loses trust
in her father when he denies her permission to attend an extravaganza organised by an FM radio
station. Taiyo loves music. She has excelled in music festivals and been awarded many times.
Broadcasting stations noticed her talent and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Even her
parents applauded her on many occasions so she did not expect them to have any objection if she
pursued the desire of her heart as a future occupation. An FM station offered her a chance to attend a
music extravaganza in Mombasa and attend a short course later. Her father refuses to grant her
permission, claiming rather absurdly that performing for money was akin to harlotry. It is evident that
Taiyo loves music. It was in her blood. She thoroughly enjoys the children’s performance in Nasila.
When her father denies her permission, it leaves a wound in her heart. She stubbornly tries to convince
him but loses the fight. This betrayal leaves her seething in rage. (1-2, 44-45)
Lastly, Ole Kaelo betrays his daughter Resian when he refuses to send her to university. Resian is
determined to join Egerton University. When they are about to relocate to Nasila from Nakuru, she tells
Taiyo that she does not want to work at their father's shop. She wanted to join Egerton University to
study veterinary medicine and be called Dr. Resian Kaelo. She requests her sister Taiyo to persuade
him to allow them to return to Nakuru and enroll at the university in order to avoid being subjected to
outdated traditions. She is not interested in Parmuat's cultural lessons. She only wants formal education
which is universally beneficial to all. Her only hope was placed on Taiyo speaking to their father as
their mother proved to be either impuissant or unwilling. She, however, chooses to remain optimistic
envisioning herself in Egerton University donning academic regalia. She rejects Oloisudori’s gifts and
hands them back since her only ambition is to pursue university education. Her father refuses to allow
her to join university. He intends to marry her off to Oloisudori, a man Resian deems a monster. She
refers to him contemptuously as ol-ushuushi – a reckless person and olbitirr - a warthog. Resian
assertively declares that even if she was over eighty years old she would still join university. It is
painful for her to struggle, run away from home, suffer in Inkiito in the hands of a callous brute –
Olarinkoi, before she finally joins university, courtesy of total strangers Nabaru and Minik. She finds
solace in the distant lands of Ntare Naaju when her own parents betray and hurt her. (Pgs. 4, 18, 33, 58,
73, 89, 196, 207, 210)
In brief, when family members fail or desert us, we suffer immense pain or hardship.