The Last Spear of Nandi: A theatrical tribute to a forgotten freedom fighter

The play, set against the sweeping highlands of Nandi, begins in the intimate spaces of Koitalel's own homestead, rather than on the battlefield. 

War drums and whispers mix here, and prophecy weighs as much as the spear in the Orkoiyot's hand. 

The tension is palpable: two wives torn between diplomacy and defiance, sons torn between preserving tradition and surviving colonial conquest, and a leader walking the fine line between the ancestors' visions and the steel barrel of the colonial gun.

The story revolves around betrayal, specifically the fateful meeting between Koitalel and British officer Richard Meinertzhagen in 1905, which took place under the guise of peace. 

The scene unfolds with such foreboding that the audience can almost feel history tightening its grip on them. 

The outcome is unavoidable, but the play's power lies in its ability to make you believe, against all odds, that this time the ending will be different.

This is more than just theatre; it is a reclamation of Kenya's historical narrative. Koitalel's story, though monumental, is often a footnote in school history books, overshadowing more widely told accounts of resistance.

The Last Spear of Nandi honors one of Kenya's greatest leaders, recognizing him as a strategist, unifier, and martyr whose life embodies the courage and sacrifice that shaped the nation.

The production does more than recount history; it immerses you in it. The performances are visceral, the dialogue laced with the rhythm of Nandi proverbs and the ache of unhealed wounds. 

Costumes and set design transport the audience to a time when land, culture, and sovereignty were worth every drop of blood spilled. 

The play captures not only the clash of empires but the quiet, human moments that make resistance deeply personal: a wife’s silent fear, a son’s wavering loyalty, a leader’s sleepless night before battle.

In an era where cultural heritage risks fading under the glare of modernity, The Last Spear of Nandi is a rallying cry.

It is an act of remembrance, a lesson in leadership, and a poignant reminder that the struggle for freedom—whether in 1905 or today—is as much about unity and identity as it is about weapons and war.

Koitalel's life was not only Nandi history, but also Kenyan, African, and global history. By bringing it to the stage, this production accomplishes something that monuments and textbooks cannot: it makes us feel it. And once you feel it, you will never forget it.

The Last Spear of Nandi will be staged at the Kenya National Theatre on August 16 and 17. Tickets are priced at KSh 1,500 for regular entry, KSh 2,000 for advance regular bookings, and KSh 5,000 for VIP seats. Tickets are available via *487*25#, with the production presented by Dorion Production in collaboration with Royal Media Services.