Out of the large group of Boers who took the boat to Mombasa in 1906, only one family of Afrikaner descent remains in Eldoret today at Kruger Farm in sergoit located 24 kilometres from Eldoret CBD on the Eldoret-Moiben road
Sergoit is also a training Ground for Elite Athletes here in Kenya and the key attractions for athletes in the area are -Moiben tarmac road -Flat high altitude zone -minimal morning traffic in Sergoit area.
I have been a member of a Facebook group called Wonders of Sergoit hills. What I have noticed is the large number of members from the area and others from abroad enjoy stories about the Kruger family farm. Here is the story of Kruger farm in Eldoret, Wonders of Sergoit hills.
Kruger farm Eldoret
The Kruger family is a prominent farming family in Uasin Gishu County to date. They carry out large-scale farming on their 5,000 acres of highly mechanized farms.
Now in its fourth generation, the Kruger’s commercially farms maize, wheat, barley, and dairy farming, and are also big conservationists. Their Sergoit farm is one of the highly mechanized farm utilizing a variety of machinery, including plowing tractors, combine harvesters, spraying machines, and road graders, to maintain their farm. My uncle who works as an agriculture supervisor once narrated to me how they also have all-terrain vehicles (ATV), also known as a quad bike to traverse their vast farm.
During the period of the late 1950s and early 1960s, amidst the Mau Mau uprising and Kenya’s journey to independence, numerous white farmers especially british and boers, apprehensive of potential backlash from the locals, were relinquishing their landholdings. Among them were the Kruger family, initially bound for South Africa. However, Jan Kruger had a change of heart upon reaching South Africa. Opting to return to Kenya, he sought Kenyan citizenship and took advantage of the opportunity to purchase inexpensive farmland from departing settlers. (which by the way can be found in their farms well maintained up to now)
Stefanus Kruger, a robust figure attired in the customary short trousers typical of white farmers in the South African countryside, assumed control of the farm after the passing of his father, Ernst Kruger, in 1983. Jan, wedded to Leen, raised three children, including Fanie and Engel Martin (commonly known as Tinie). Leen was renowned for her fiery temperament, earning her the nickname “Kadunyi” among her Luhya workers, which meant hot-tempered. Fanie and Tinie attended Middleburg se Hoe”rskool in South Africa from 1971 to 1976, maintaining strong connections to their South African roots. In 1985, Fanie tied the knot with Carol, with whom he had two children.
Following his father’s demise, Fanie ramped up farming operations and emerged as a prominent figure in Uasin Gishu. In 1996, he took a significant step by establishing a wildlife sanctuary and introducing thirteen giraffes. Supported by the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) and the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW), the sanctuary was dedicated to preserving the Rothschild’s giraffe species, which faced the threat of extinction.
In 2011, the Kruger family divested 570 acres of their land to the Emo Foundation, another 150 acres to the Jamii Milling Company, and allocated 1,200 acres to individuals interested in smallholdings. Retaining ownership, they kept 3,000 acres, now in partnership with the Sergoit Golf and Wildlife Resort. This resort, a substantial asset of Sergoit Holdings Limited, boasted a multi-billion valuation and maintained close ties with Jamii Telecommunications and Kass Media.
Migration to Kenya
The Kruger family’s roots can be traced back to Mpumalanga, South Africa, where they migrated in 1908. They are descendants of the Van Rensburg Trek migrants who moved to Kenya during the British colonial period. The family has a rich history and is considered one of the prominent families in South Africa.
From the sizable contingent of Boers who embarked on the voyage to Mombasa in 1906, only a solitary family of Afrikaner heritage remains still in Uasin Gishu today, residing at Sergoit Kruger farm.
In the 1930s, Eldoret resembled any small town in the countryside. The Afrikaner pioneers who established roots in Kenya’s western highlands engaged in leisurely pastimes like jukskei in the unpaved streets, crafting traditional treats such as koeksisters and melktert, and gathering for braais beneath the shade of acacia trees. Eldoret, once envisioned as the heart of their “Promised Land,” has since melded into the fabric of Africa, witnessing an influx of rural migrants seeking sustenance.
Today Fanie Kruger, the sole descendant of the Boer settlers. Born in 1956, Kruger entered a world where over a thousand Boers called Eldoret home.
Kruger openly acknowledges his strategic affiliations with Kanu — a political party synonymous with the oppressive regime of President Daniel arap Moi, marked by atrocities, economic exploitation, and political repression.
“If I hadn’t aligned with Kanu, I would have lost everything. My attachment to my land is profound. So, I had to make compromises, and I bear no shame for it. I’ve endured while all the other Boers have vanished. Now, I stand alone,” asserts Kruger defiantly.
However, his support for Kanu was never unconditional. In 1997, he and fellow farmers orchestrated a blockade of Eldoret using trucks, tractors, and combine harvesters to protest against the influx of cheap imports and declining prices.
This action deeply embarrassed and enraged Moi, particularly as Eldoret served as a stronghold for his Kalenjin tribe.
“The aftermath of the blockade was harrowing,” recalls Kruger. “Authorities pointed fingers at me, attempting to undermine my position…. You’d be driving along the road and suddenly encounter a massive sand lorry blocking your path! On a few occasions, I narrowly escaped harm.”
Kruger attributes his survival and the safeguarding of his land from potential confiscation to his amicable relations with local leaders, which he believes shielded him from potential assassination attempts.