What comes to mind when you think of Baringo County? Let me guess: a dry, rocky place with scarce food and frequent insecurity issues? This is the image that often comes to mind when people hear “Baringo.” I used to think the same. My perception was even worse. It was one of those counties I never thought I would visit, let alone live in. However, volunteering has a way of making you see things differently, not just about yourself but also about places. It’s funny how the very things you once swore you’d never do often become part of your most memorable experiences.
After spending just three weeks in Baringo, I’ve had a complete change of heart. This place is far more than the single story most people believe. Baringo is a beautiful county, rich in food, culture, and incredible people. The danger of clinging to a single narrative is that it reinforces stereotypes, preventing us from discovering the richness a place truly offers. We need to break away from these limiting perceptions. Once you put yourself in other people’s shoes, you start to see things from a different perspective, moving beyond judgment formed by hearsay.
Every day in Baringo brings discoveries, challenges, and lessons. One of the most unexpected joys for me has been the local pawpaws. I have disliked this fruit my entire life, yet here I am, eating it daily with delight! The warm climate here seems to make them sweeter. Baringo’s climate is also perfect for goat farming, and delicious meat and honey are abundant.
Learning the local Kalenjin language and culture has been a highlight of my stay. I was given the name “Talai,” which means calm, docile, and submissive. I even learned how to make a “sotet,” a beautifully decorated calabash gourd used to store fermented milk. These small cultural exchanges have enriched my experience immensely.
While the hospitality of the Baringo people stands out as one of my favorite parts of this journey, I must admit there are a few challenges too, like the occasional encounters with snakes, scorpions, and frogs. However, these creatures are rarely found near homesteads, and the community has traditional ways to deal with them. Frogs are warded off with salt, while a snake entering a house can be handled by pouring hot water on it; simple yet effective methods passed down through generations.
In conclusion, my time in Baringo has taught me to question the single stories we often hear about places. The county is far from the barren and insecure land I once imagined. Instead, it’s a place of warmth, culture, and community.
Breaking the stereotypes about Baringo has opened my eyes to a new way of thinking, and I encourage others to do the same. What assumptions are you holding onto that might be keeping you from discovering something beautiful?
