Baringo Cries: 6.7Million Year-Old Fossil Still Missing for Over 20 Years

By Joseph Kangogo

Welcome to Baringo but never mention Orrorin Tugenensis because 'the missing' fossil has become a source of painful perennial headache lacking medicine 20 years on.

It is slighly over two decades now since the momentous discovery of Orrorin Tugenensis fossil was discovered back in 2001 by French paleontologists Brigitte Senut and Martin Pickford at Rondinin valley, Baringo North.

The human fossil is believed to be 6.7 million years old and among the oldest known ancestors of mankind both in African continent and earth.

Some members of Kipsaraman Community Museum displaying some documents. /Joseph Kangogo 

“As a community we thought the landmark discovery would be our main socio-economic breakthrough,” says Samuel Chetalam, Curator in-charge of the looking-abandoned facility. 

With deserving excitement, the founded fossil generated into immediate installation of Kipsaraman Community Museum located in Saimo-Kipsaraman ward whose temporary structures were erected in 2002.

Nestled along the cradle Tugen Hills, the fossilized remains of 'Orrorin Tugenensis'— means Original Man in the local Tugen language—have been a source of mixed hope and anguish for the local community.

‘Orrorin Tugenensis’ is said to be one of the oldest human fossil, huge size of a chimpanzee with small teeth and thick enamel similar to the modern humans.

Researchers also found along with it some 50,000 native fossils aged between 6.0 and 6.2million years old.

Stalled Kipsaraman Museum santuary worth over sh30million.

The natural heritage was heralded as a beacon of transformation, expected to usher in development and global interest to this quiet, remotest corner of Kenya. 

But questions keep lingering people's minds as to where where exactly is the missing fossil kept since its discovery?, who is handling it? and will the fossil ever come back to its community or it will just remain in written and verbal history books forever.

But while the 'original man' goes missing two decades later, leaders keep feeding locals with empty promises as time passes, days come and go. Instead of thriving museum town as envisioned, Baringo North residents are now left with a ghost, delapidated, incomplete structure, series of unfulfilled government promises and growing resentment.

The temporary Kipsaraman Community Museum landmarked by a rickety-wooden structure constructed back in 2002 now sits idle while its aging materials were being consumed by termites, being left a ghost stalled monument, killing the reminisce hope for the ambitious community.

The facility is not useful at the moment, not even as a teaching aid to local school students as it used to be. "We made several requests to the government to fast track its revival and operationalization but the process has been a snail pace,” Chetalam said.

His concern is echoed by entire locals of Baringo across all generations.

If you touch the ground any day you will simply hear resenting voices like of an elder Chepsom Cherop, 85 from Bangadesh village near the said Kipsaraman museum site, pleading for help to have Orrorin back home.

His voice has become a powerful symbol of community protest. Notably, a number of elders who oversaw and endorsed the monumental discovery have passed on without a single benefit.

Representing hundreds from Tugen community’s Arror sub-tribe, Mzee Cherop accuses county government of Baringo for what he terms as "deliberate delay and lack of communication".

“I want Governor Cheboi to return back our treasure or rather he should come out clear to explain why he doesn’t want to do so,” he said.

Currently the fossil is believed to be in the custody of Community Museums of Kenya (CMK) under the gallery of Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Eustus Kitonga in Nairobi, far removed from its ancestral land.

Meanwhile, its return-home remains a pipe dream since the building meant to house it at Kipsaraman Museum was deemed substandard from inception.

Locals reported saying the materials used are weak and now water leak through the decomposing walls and it is dangerously unstable—despite claims that more than Ksh10 million have already been allocated and spent.

“We are not seeing any signs of it being completed any time soon,” mutters one committee member assigned by the community to oversee the museum’s progress.

Mzee Chepsom Cherop, 85 living near Kipsaraman Museum wants Orrorin Tugenensis fossil back home. /Joseph Kangogo 

Cheptirim Chebet, the vice secretary of the community group said “we have been pleading with the County Government of Baringo to finish the house of Orrorin in vain.” 

But their collective frustration and impatience have boiled over. Joseph Cheserem, museum vice chairman fears prolonged government inaction will tarnish its legacy.

“This project has stalled for long yet it was meant to create employment,” he says. He said in March 14th 2024, community members met in a desperate push to salvage the stalled project.

They agreed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) be signed between the county government and the CMK to clarify community benefits, financial commitments, and custodianship responsibilities.

"Yet, more than a year later, not a single signature has been appended. Residents now fear deception.They have been pestering us that the government lied to them,” Cheserem said.

In a glimmer of hope, Baringo County Governor Cheboi addressed the issue on March 17th, 2025, stating that funds had already been allocated toward finishing the Kipsaraman museum santuary.

But as days slip by, hope dwindles. “We are appealing to the government to fulfill their promises,” he adds.

“I don’t know what is happening between the county government and the community.”

For a fossil of such historical and scientific significance, Orrorin Tugenensis symbolizes more than just evolutionary progress—it is a reflection of unkept promises, lost opportunities, and an aching identity.

Locals envisioned educational tours, global media attention, cultural pride, and an economic boom from tourism. Instead, they’re left wondering: “Is the government not interested in getting this thing? We are tired.” Baringo’s cry is clear: they are not merely asking for infrastructure or exhibitions.

They are asking for dignity, respect, and recognition of their heritage. They are asking to reclaim history—to bring Orrorin home, not just as a fossil, but as the centerpiece of Baringo’s rebirth.

And until the day a ribbon is cut and the doors to the Kipsaraman Museum swing open, the people of Baringo North will continue to mourn a promise buried too long.

Community Museums of Kenya CEO Eustus Kitonga says "it is true I have since been looking after the safety of Orrorin Tugenesis fossil as far as heritage of our country Kenya is concern."

He spoke while he met Governor Benjamin Cheboi in his office to discuss plans to return the fossil back two years ago.

Kitonga cited 1.1m-year-old 'King man' fossil in China discovered by American scientist in 1944, it later got lost to date without trace.

"I am ready to hand over the fossil back to Baringo once permanent house is completed" Kitonga said.

He futher said as soon as the facility is in place he will release the fossil (Orrorin Tugenesis) in accompany of 50,000 other fossils found alongside it. 

Inside view of dilapidated Kipsaraman Museum in Baringo North housing hundreds of fossils discovered by scientists over 20 years ago. /Joseph Kangogo 

However Governor Cheboi said already his administration has allocated funds to construct ongoing museum premise in Kipsaraman to completion.

"We thank Kitonga for taking care and placing our heritage in safe custody, Museums is now a devolved function under amended constitution 2010 and it is about time now we reclaim back our natural resource" Cheboi said.

He said he will sit down with stakeholders to discuss on formula to ensure the fossil, a high tourists attraction facility, is maximised to benefit local community, county government of Baringo and Kenya at large.

"We will partner with museums of Kenya and professions to research for more fossils and make Kipsaraman Museum a leading tourism and learning institution" Cheboi said. 

Sikika Community Based Organisation(CBO) Chairman Evans Mengich says he had accompanied a team of county government officials and the museum curator to CMK headquarters in Nairobi where they confirmed the fossil is actually in safe custody.

“To date it is only awaiting completion of the construction of the model structure in Kipsaraman before our monumental fossil is released back to the community” he said.

Saimo-Soi Kipsaraman Ward MCA John Aengwo together with his Saimo-Soi counterpart Michael Chebon lauded for engaging talks with Kitonga to return back the fossil.

"For sure our communities in Saimo-Soi and Kipsaraman have lost alot but never the less with assurance of Governor Cheboi and Kitonga, our communities are hopeful soon they will reap from their heritage" Aengwo said.

Chebon said through the tourism resource, roads and businesses will be opened. "We are optimistic this thing will soon be put to rest and it will not be mentioned on bad light again" he said.