Meet Baringo veteran Tugen cultural singer who grapples with abject poverty despite entertaining five presidents of Kenya.
Elima Chesang, 73, the star of the Kewamoi women dancers now sells charcoal and boiled eggs to eke out a living in Kabarnet town.
She says she first sang for Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in 1974.
“Since, then not even a single elected leader has ever bothered to lend a hand to better my life,” Chesang told the Star in an exclusive interview on Thursday.
She hails from remote Kapteberewo village in Baringo North but relocated in the 1970s to Kabarnet in Baringo Central.
The songbird with a high but soothing voice entertained during President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta.
Chesang also sang for President William Ruto and Governor Benjamin Cheboi during their political campaigns.
“To date I am ready and I still have the energy to entertain them anytime they are having public functions here in Baringo or outside,” she said.
She hasn’t retired from singing because it is her talent and has given her happiness all her life.
“I call singing a detergent for washing the heart and every human being, whatever the class, loves entertainment.” she said.
Ask anybody in Kabarnet town and they will tell you truly that although she's aging, granny Chesang has always been on the frontline to offer her best whenever traditional dancers are called to public events.
She has composed popular songs such as Kenu Lomicho, Mutiny Kolom Ruto, Those opposing Ruto shall not make it,' ‘Kongoi Bikab Baringo Amu Koweku Governor Benjamin Cheboi’, ‘Thanks to the people of Baringo for Reelecting Governor Cheboi.’
RETIREMENT HELP
She now appeals to the elected leaders, especially President Ruto and Governor Cheboi, to recognise her and give her some little token as she exits for her retirement.
“It is true that since I started singing for our former leaders I haven’t been rewarded even a single day with the smallest piece of land or a plot. To date I am still living in a rented house,” she said.
She says during Moi’s era, late former Kabarnet town mayor Philemon Chelagat was his main handler and he would always discourage us from approaching senior leaders to beg for money.
“So we could just perform and later we are just given some little money like sh40,000 to share amongst our whole group members so they could buy some sugar and floor, we didn’t benefit much” she said.
Chesang said she has a lot of hope with President Ruto’s government.
She said it seems merciful to the people on the ground and thinks it would recognise talented groups through his ‘bottom-up’ economic model.
“I also have confidence in Governor Cheboi that he will go out of his way to stabilise the artists and the jobless youths of Baringo,” she said.
Furthermore the veteran singer said she has helped to train youngsters to take over the mantle after she exits for her retirement.
"But I just need the government to recognise me, give me some retirement token,” she said.
Says her children and grandchildren completed school but they are just staying at home jobless.
“I am just praying God to protect the government and our leaders so they can help improve the dwindling economy of this country and help uplift the lives of its people” she said.
(Edited by V. Graham)
