Koitalel Arap Samoei

He held the dual roles of chief spiritual and military leader, and had the authority to make decisions regarding security matters particularly the waging of war and negotiating for peace.

[2] Koitalel's brother, Kipchomber arap Koilege, also laid claim to Nandi leadership, leading to a succession dispute.

Factions formed around the two aspirants and minor skirmishes took place between their supporters but this did not extend to full scale war.

To end the resistance, the now largely disgraced intelligence officer Richard Meinertzhagen invited Koitalel to a peace truce meeting after leading a rebellion against the colonial invasion of the Nandi.

Suspecting that he would be killed as his father Kimnyole had foretold, Samoei instructed Meinertzhagen to come with five companions to meet him at Ketbarak (present-day Nandi Bears Club).

However, after news of what had actually happened became known, Meinertzhagen claimed self-defence in an investigation, and eventually, after a third court of inquiry, he was cleared by the presiding officer, Brig.

The Koitaleel Samoei Secondary School situated in Nandi Hills town is named after him to commemorate his leadership.. .