Browsing by Author "Langat Kiprotich Robert"

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Dynamism of male circumcision and its socio-political impacts among the Kipsigis of Bomet county, kenya 1962- 2018
(Chuka University, 2024) Langat Kiprotich Robert
This study examined the dynamisms of male circumcision and its socio-political impacts among the Kipsigis of Bomet County; Kenya. The dynamism of the ritual of male circumcision has divided the Kipsigis people into two distinct groups; the mainstream conservatives who support traditional male circumcision and the church group which supports hospital modern circumcision. These groups remain suspicious of each other and this has influenced their social and political lifestyles. This study explored the dynamisms of male circumcision and its socio-political impacts among the Kipsigis of Bomet County. To achieve this purpose the study was guided by the following objectives; to examine the traditional ritual of male circumcision of the Kipsigis, to analyze changes in male circumcision and to establish the socio-political impacts of male circumcision in men of the Kipsigis. This study covered the period between 1962 and 2018. The study was conducted on the premise that there is a tradition of male circumcision among the Kipsigis of Bomet County, that there are changes to male circumcision, that there are socio- political implications on the dynamicity of male circumcision among the Kipsigis and that all the Kipsigis male aged 18 years and above are circumcised. The study was informed by Social Darwinism theory which asserts that only the fittest species in an organized environment survives while the unfit get extinct to establish changes in male circumcision and its socio-political impacts on Kipsigis of Bomet County. This study was conducted in Bomet East Sub-county. This study adopted a descriptive design as it allowed for qualitative research. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics in the 2019 population census revealed that the entire population of Bomet East Sub-county was 144,275 within a geographical area of 305 km2. The target population for this study was 144,275 both men and women. This study applied stratified random sampling method based on age grade and snowballing technique to access respondents within the age-grade. This study sampled 50 respondents. During data collection, this study used questionnaires, field surveys and interviews. Data was collected from primary and secondary sources. The sources of data included: oral sources, archival sources and secondary sources which were corroborated to meet the reliability and objectivity of the research. The study findings were analyzed and presented through qualitative data analysis. From the findings of the study it was established that the Kipsigis male circumcision was a cultural practice that communicated values, beliefs, and customs of the community. It had a significant social function and fostered feelings of identity as well as solidarity. The study also established that Kipsigis had elaborate circumcision rituals such as the gotab-tumin, lappet ab eun and kayaet rituals. In regard to male circumcision, it played a significant role in the Kipsigis culture. The study also established that the social way of life of people has been impacted by changes and dynamics in male circumcision in areas like gender inequality, religious discrimination, social stratification, health care, and wage inequality. The change in male circumcision has also had an effect on how people are governed; their politics, political superiority, political psychology, and political parties and democracy have replaced the leadership of council elders. This research could help other researchers who may want to explore the culture of the Kalenjin people and it could also enrich the field of Kipsigis cultural history before, during and after the colonial period. This study contributes to the social-political historiography of the Kipsigis of Bomet County; Kenya.