The First Man and the Great Rift

When Nkai first created man, he placed him at the bottom of a great valley. All the animals lived there with him in peace. However, the man, whose name was Gikuyu, was also given the gift of ambition. He was not content to stay in the valley. He forged a great spear and began to climb the steep escarpment. The other animals warned him not to go, as it was the edge of the world. But Gikuyu persisted. When he reached the top, he looked down and saw the whole world laid out before him. In that moment of pride, the earth shuddered. Nkai, seeing that Man would not be content to live in harmony, split the world, creating the Great Rift Valley (Kerio). Gikuyu and his people were left on one side, and many of the great herds of animals were left on the other. This is how the Samburu explain the creation of the vast valley that defines their homeland—it was a divine act to separate the ambition of Man from the primeval peace of the animal kingdom.