Man from Sweden becomes a moran

Max Lemeyan Le Kachuma, 25 years old Swedish dances with fellow Morans during the recent ceremony of Ilkiramat Eunoto at Salabani in Baringo County on December 13, 2014

What you need to know:

  • “I came to Kenya as a tourist and also to help in environmental conservation through planting trees in Kajiado County,” Mr Roing told the Nation after the graduation.

When he flew to Kenya in 2011, as a volunteer with a local NGO, being an Ilchamus moran was perhaps the last thing in the mind of Max Roing, who is Swedish.

But three years later, Max 25, has completely fallen in love with the rich culture of the minority people on the shores of lake Baringo.

As if that is not enough, the soft-spoken Max was among 5,000 Ilchamus youth of Baringo County, who graduated to manhood last week after traditional circumcision.

“I came to Kenya as a tourist and also to help in environmental conservation through planting trees in Kajiado County,” Mr Roing told the Nation after the graduation.

He has now embraced his new culture, including the dress code complete with a dark pink shuka, a sword strapped to his brown belt, black sandals and decorative beaded attire. The rite of passage has enabled him to enter the current age-group, Ilmeng’ati.

“My name is Max Lemeyan Le Kachuma from the Ilchamus tribe and a clan called Iltoimai,” he confidently introduces himself as he sips sour milk from a cup. He then unwraps a polythene with round, yellow substances. He picks handful and pours some onto his milk.