BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH KCSE ESSAY QUESTIONS AND

ANSWERS

Blossoms of the Savannah Essay questions

1. Basing your illustrations on Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay
to negate the saying “Blood is thicker than water” (20 marks)

Actions by some characters in Blossoms of the Savannah tend to negate the

saying ‘blood is thicker than water.’ We expect family bonds to be the strongest
and the loyalty to be true yet that is not the case. Ole Kaelo and Mama
Milanoi put their daughters Taiyo and Resian through harrowing experiences
and ironically, they get help from strangers such as Nabaru and Minik ene
Nkoitoi.

Ole Kaelo’s actions go against the saying blood is thicker than water. Although
he is Resian’s father, he abhors her for no apparent reason. Ole Kaelo
intimidates Resian so much and she only finds solace in her sister Taiyo. Ole
Kaelo teams up with Oloisudori to hatch an evil plan to kidnap Resian,
anesthetize her and have her circumcised should she turn down Oloisudori’s
proposal. He is against her ambitions of joining Egerton University with the
intention of marrying her off to an old man she hates. This indeed negates the
saying; blood is thicker than water.

Mama Milanoi’s actions also negate the saying blood is thicker than water. In
the face of Resian’s constant intimidation by her own father, Mama Milanoi
fails to protect her. Resian constantly rushes to Taiyo for a shoulder to lean on.
She also deceives Taiyo using Resian’s plight, to accompany the three women
to Esoit where she is savagely circumcised against her will. Surprisingly, Taiyo
is rescued by Joseph Parmuat, who is not a blood relative; sadly, he loses his
life. Indeed, this is a testament that family bonds may sometimes be the weak
link in a relationship.

Taiyo’s experiences in Nasila prove that sometimes family ties are not the
strongest ties. Her father is clearly inconsiderate of her feelings and needs when
he denies her a chance to attend a music extravaganza in Mombasa. When she is
kidnapped, help comes from unexpected quarters. She is rescued by Minik ene
Nkoitoi’s team. Joseph Parmuat, a distant clan member, sacrifices himself for
Taiyo’s sake when her parents seem indifferent. Indeed; this negates the saying
blood is thicker than water.

Lastly, Nabaru the enkabaani cares for Resian more than her mother does.
Resian even calls her a “God given mother”. Although they are not related,
Nabaru proves to be caring and motherly. She tends to Resian following the
nasty beating she received from Olarinkoi. When her father tries to forcefully
marry her off to Oloisudori, Resian escapes to Inkiito with the help of
Olarinkoi; little does she know that he has ulterior motives. He attempts to rape
her and hurts her badly. During her 3 weeks stay at Inkiito, Resian receives
tender care in terms of medical attention and food from Nabaru. She is not only
a loving and caring mother to her, but also a valuable friend and confidant. She
also rescues her from the hands of Olarinkoi and his evil mother Enkoiboni
despite the fact that she has been paid handsomely in order to be part of the
scheme. This also negates the popular belief that blood is thicker than water.
To sum up, Mama Milanoi and Ole Kaelo prove that family members can turn
out to be our greatest enemies and occasionally help comes from people who
are not necessarily related to us.

2. Determination leads to victory. Write an essay to qualify this claim

basing your illustration on H.E Ole Kulet’s Blossoms of the Savannah (20
marks)

Trying to achieve something difficult relentlessly and resolutely always results

in success. In other words, steadfastness pays off. In Blossoms of the
Savannah Resian’s strength of will pays off when she beats all the challenges
and manages to go to the university against all odds. She breaks the shackles of
unsupportive parents, archaic cultural practices of FGM and early marriages and
cruel patriarchal beliefs to achieve her dream of enrolling at Egerton University.

Resian is determined to join Egerton University to pursue a course in Veterinary

Medicine, a dream she manages to achieve. From the onset, Resian is resolute
about her ambition of joining Egerton University. She obstinately urges her
sister to talk to their father about their prospect of returning to Nakuru to enroll
at Egerton University. Although her father does not support this, she still fights
determinedly until she achieves her dream. Her determination makes her trust
Olarinkoi who has promised to take her to Ntare-naaju ranch to meet
Emakererei who is to aid her pursue her dream. The journey is tumultuous but
she beats all odds and finally departs for Egerton on 5th September.

Resian is determined to cheat the cultural expectations and remain

uncircumcised, a feat she manages to achieve. When Ole Kaelo relocates to
Nasila from Nakuru, there is immense pressure on him to circumcise his girls to
evade the derogatory title of father to intoiye nemengalana (uncircumcised
girls). He is torn between the Nasila culture and his daughter’s liberty and
needs. Some men like Ole Supeyo circumcised all their girls and married them
off to prominent men in Nasila. He says that women have to be circumcised to
control their wild nature. Ole Musanka, a dignified elder insists that girls must
be circumcised. Other women like Enkamuratani, Enkasakatoni and
Enkaitoyoni also vehemently support the cut. She risks her life by blindly
trusting Olarinkoi with sheer need to escape the cut. She manages to escape
from Nasila to Ntare-naaju albeit through difficult situations. Eventually, she
escapes both FGM and early marriage.

Resian also manages to escape the suffocating chains of patriarchy when

accosted by Oloisudori; she manages to escape forced marriage to an old man
due to her steely steadfastness. Oloisudori hatches a heartless plan to have
Resian kidnapped and even anesthetized if need be. He plans to forcefully have
her circumcised and to marry her as a sixth wife. He manages to arm twist Ole
Kaelo into accepting the deal by using gifts including 500,000 shillings and a
mansion for Resian in Milimani-Nakuru. Resian is neither lured nor sucked in
by Oloisudori’s pompous show of financial might. She calls him mad and says
she can only marry him over her dead body. Even though Oloisudori, Ole Kaelo
and Mama Milanoi conspire to have her married to Oloisudori, her sheer
determination helps her to avoid this.

Resian manages to fight off Olarinkoi who is led to believe that their impending
marriage is destiny as prophesied by her diviner mother. She prophesied that
Olarinkoi would live with the Kaelos and later marry one of his daughters. He
kidnaps her and hides her in a dungeon in the sleepy village of Inkiito after
deceiving her. He even tries to rape her. Resian’s courage and determination is
seen when she fights bravely and bites him badly while defending herself. She
endures harrowing life in Olarinkoi’s hut that is crawling with rats, lizards and
snakes. She remembers the Biblical story of Job and how he triumphed because
of perseverance. Eventually she manages to escape with the help of Nabaru the
enkabaani. Inspired by her bravery and determination, Nabaru walks through
the dangerous Inkiito terrain until she finds and convinces a lorry driver to make
a detour in order to help Resian. Finally, she meets Minik ene Nkoitoi, who
helps her to enroll at Egerton University.
Resian beats all odds and achieves her dreams. Surely, determination leads to
victory.
3. “Our greatest enemies are those close to us.” Basing your argument on
H.E Ole Kulet’s Blossoms of the Savannah write an essay to qualify this
assertion.
(20 Marks)

More often than not, we are harmed or betrayed by those close to us. Our close
family members, trusted friends, or other relatives sometimes turn out to be our
biggest adversaries. In Blossoms of the Savannah Mama Milanoi betrays her
own daughter Taiyo when she deceives her and has her savagely circumcised
against her will. Other characters that highlight this vice are Oloisudori and Ole
Kaelo.

Parsimei Ole Kaelo is an enemy to his own daughter Resian. He has abhorred
her since she was born because he expected a boy. He plans to have Resian
forcefully circumcised and married off to a sly and cunning extortionist Mr.
Oloisudori, a man she vehemently hates. Oloisudori financed Ole Kaelo’s
businesses and helped him to acquire a magnificent home in Nasila. He uses his
guile and money to lure Ole Kaelo and Mama Milanoi into accepting his odd
demand. Ole Kaelo schemes with Oloisudori to have his own daughter
kidnapped and anesthetized should she turn down his proposal. He equates her
to a stubborn kid that refuses to suckle. Ultimately, Ole Kaelo fails in his bid to
please Oloisudori and to fulfill his own avarice since Resian escapes, leaving
them reeling in turmoil.

Oloisudori Loonkiya turns out to be an enemy to Ole Kaelo. They are friends
and business allies. Although he knows that Oloisudori is a criminal, he does
not expect him to betray their friendship. When Oloisudori visits Ole Kaelo’s
home and meets Resian he falls in love with her and demands to marry her. She
also has to be circumcised. Oloisudori is an old man while Resian is still a
teenager. Ole Kaelo is shocked by this strange demand and beseeches him to
drop it and ask for anything else. Oloisudori uses his financial strength and
emotional blackmail to convince Ole Kaelo to bless the union. He gives him
500,000 shillings as dowry. This evil scheme fails when Resian tells Oloisudori
off in his face and escapes. Oloisudori later faces the wrath of Minik ene
Nkoitoi and his vehicles are destroyed.

Olarinkoi betrays Resian’s trust. He looks odd but seemingly harmless. He is

accepted into the Kaelo homestead where he visits freely and eats together with
them. He deceives them with food supplies. He earns Resian’s trust when he
rescues Taiyo and her from their would-be rapists Ntara and Lante. He turns out
to be Resian’s foe when he deceives and kidnaps her taking her to Inkiito
instead of Ntare-naaju. He plans to have her circumcised and to marry her and
escape with her to Tanzania. He attempts to rape her and causes grievous bodily
harm on her. His evil scheme also fails when Nabaru helps Resian to escape
from his home. He is also forced into hiding after his shameless rape attempt.

Mama Milanoi is an adversary to her own daughters. She fails to speak up for
them but instead selfishly guards her marriage. She is scared to ask her husband
to let them join Egerton University. In the face of constant intimidation, she
fails to offer her protective wings to Resian who only finds solace in Taiyo. She
is privy to the evil scheme to have Resian kidnapped and forcefully circumcised
and married to Oloisudori but she remains callously indifferent. She laughs
when Ole Kaelo compares her to an obstinate kid. She also blatantly lies and
convinces Taiyo to follow the three women to Esoit where she is brutally
circumcised. Surely, our family members turn out to be our biggest foes.

Lastly, Ntara son of Muyo betrays Resian and Taiyo. He is their relative.
Although he is of the Ilukumae clan, he is their first cousin. He is a son of
Mama Milanoi’s sister who married Muyo an elder. He accosts them while in
the company of Lante son of Kanyira and attempts to rape them. In the scuffle
that ensues, the girls are injured. They are rescued by Olarinkoi. It is odd that he
tries to rape his own cousins. He is later apprehended and beaten up mercilessly.
He is also fined three heifers.

In conclusion, the events in Blossoms of the Savannah prove that those close to
us turn out to be our greatest adversaries.
4. “Individuals who are selfless and determined are always rewarded in
life”. Using illustrations from the novel Blossoms of the Savannah, write an
essay in support of this statement. (20 Marks)

Some individuals show great concern for other people by sacrificing their
valuable time and possession for others. Their steadfast spirit coupled with their
selflessness always results in success. In Blossoms of the Savannah Minik ene
Nkoitoi and Nabaru are characters who are rewarded for such acts of kindness.
They achieve what they set out to do.

Minik ene Nkoitoi is not only selfless but also determined. Her resoluteness
pays off. First, she manages to go to Makerere University to pursue a course in
veterinary medicine, which is no mean feat for a Maa woman. For instance, all
of Ole Supeyo’s daughters were circumcised and married off to prominent
Nasilian elders. Although Minik was also circumcised, that does not hinder her
from achieving her dreams. She manages a sheep ranch at Ntare-naaju. Unlike
other Maa women who subserviently coil before men, ene Nkoitoi remains an
assertive individual who succeeds because of her resoluteness.

Apart from her success in education and career, Minik also succeeds in her fight
against needless cultural practices like FGM. She relentlessly puts up a spirited
fight against FGM and early marriages. She faces stiff resistance from
conservative chauvinists such as Ole Supeyo, Ole Musanka and Oloisudori but
she stays steadfast in her quest to abolish the inessential traditions. Even fellow
women like enkamuratani, enkasakatoni and enkaitoyoni fuel the practices
further. Minik has been labeled entagoroi (wasp) but she does not relent. Due to
her selflessness she manages to rescue five hundred thousand girls and
sacrifices her valuable time and resources to make them comfortable. Resian
and Taiyo also benefit from her selfless nature. She accommodates and feeds
them and enables them to join Egerton University. Indeed, Selfless and
determined characters always succeed.
Nabaru is also both selfless and determined. When Olarinkoi deceives and
kidnaps Resian and takes her to Inkiito instead of Ntare-naaju, Nabaru’s help
comes in handy. She nurses and feeds Resian like her own daughter. She gives
her water, milk, bits of olpurda, pounded mutton and ugali. She reveals the evil
plan that enkoiboni has for Resian. She selflessly nurses and feeds Resian for
over 12 days. Although she has been paid handsomely, she abandons the initial
plan and chooses to help Resian. In her Resian finds not only a loving and
caring mother but also a valuable friend and confidant. She makes Resian
comfortable by making her a bed using her two blankets. She manages to make
Resian’s stay at Inkiito a bit bearable. She succeeds since selfless individuals
more often than not achieve success.

Nabaru is also determined to help Resian escape the cut and marriage to
Olarinkoi; she succeeds. She walks a long distance to the next shopping centre
to find a driver, Lebutu, and convinces him to help her rescue Resian. She
makes a daring and determined trek considering the terrain was dangerous and
riddled with wild animals. She succeeds since she ensures Resian arrives safely
at Ntare-naaju and meets her role model Minik ene Nkoitoi, the emakererei.
Resian refers to her as yeiyo-ai-nanyorr which means my beloved mother.
Nabaru’s resolute spirit helps Resian evade circumcision and marriage and
instead get chance to join her dream institution- Egerton University. Olarinkoi
and enkoiboni fail terribly but Nabaru succeeds.

In conclusion, it is indeed true to say selfless and determined individuals are

usually rewarded in life.

5. “Bad deeds always go unrewarded.” Write a composition to support this

assertion basing your illustration on HR Ole Kulet’s Blossoms of the
Savannah. (20 Marks)
Individuals who commit atrocities more often than not fail to achieve whatever
they are trying to achieve. Some individuals do shocking or cruel things due to
their selfishness but they never succeed. In Blossoms of the Savannah,
Olarinkoi, who tries to rape Resian, is hurt and humiliated and he fails to marry
her. Ole Kaelo and Oloisudori’s atrocities also fail to bear fruits.

Oloisudori plans to forcefully circumcise and marry Resian against her will but
he fails terribly. Oloisudori is a sly extortionist tricks Ole Kaelo (Resian’s
father) into a business partnership. After helping Ole Kaelo secures several
lucrative contracts, he demands to marry Resian forcefully. Resian hates him
since he acts suggestively when the first meet. Ole Supeyo had earlier cautioned
Ole Kaelo about his randy traits. He tries to woo her with gifts such as a golden
brooch and bracelet and a spectacular house which she duly hands back. He
hatches a callous plan to have Resian kidnapped and anesthetized should she
turn down the proposal. He fails terribly since Resian calls him mad and says he
can only marry her over her dead body. Even after spending millions of
shillings and using unethical means to get a wife, Oloisudori fails to get Resian
hand in marriage.

Olarinkoi, who kidnaps Resian with a view of marrying her, is unrewarded.

Olarinkoi is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He pretends to be a friend to the Kaelos
when he lives with them. He rescues Taiyo and Resian when Ntara and Lante
try to rape them thus earning Resian’s trust. He tricks Resian into believing that
he will take her to Ntare-naaju to meet Minik ene Nkoitoi, and avoid
circumcision and marriage to Oloisudori. Instead he takes her to Inkiito village
where he tries to rape her and assaults her until she passes out. Resian’s journey
to Inkiito and the stay there is harrowing. Luckily she escapes with the help of
Nabaru. Thus Olarinkoi fails to marry her. He is also forced into hiding due to
shame and nearly loses a finger when Resian almost severs it. Surely, bad deeds
always go unrewarded.

Ole Kaelo’s greed for material possession does not bear fruits. Ole Kaelo is
sucked in by Oloisudori’s opulence and apparent generosity that he fails to see
the danger he exposes himself and his family into. After getting into a business
partnership with Oloisudori, he is thrown into turmoil when Oloisudori
demands to marry Resian. He is faced with a dilemma of either losing his
daughter’s faith and love or losing his lucrative contracts and possibly his
magnificent house. After visiting Oloisudori’s palatial homes, Ole Kaelo
chooses wealth over Resian’s happiness. He warms up to the idea of having
Resian kidnapped and anesthetized. He receives 500, 000 shillings among other
gifts but fails to have Resian marry Oloisudori. She runs away from home
leaving his father confused! His evil plans prove futile.

Mama Milanoi selfishly guards her marriage at the expense of her daughter’s
happiness. She is a conservative conformist who remains subservient and fails
to protect Taiyo and Resian. When they move to Nasila, she is delighted since
her daughters would be married by prominent men. She is, however, stuck
between the devil and the deep, blue sea of either losing her daughters’ faith and
love or going against the Nasila traditions. She deceives Taiyo and aids three
women to abduct her and whisk her away to Esoit village where she is forcibly
and brutally circumcised. She hopes to have her married to Oloisudori so that
they keep the business contracts and maintain the enviable living standards in
Nasila. Her plan fails since Taiyo is rescued by Minik ene Nkoitoi’s team and
taken to Ntare-naaju where she joins other girls. Resian and she swear never to
be subservient like their mother! Indeed, bad deeds always go unrewarded.

In conclusion, bad deeds never bear any fruits instead the perpetrators fail
terribly.

6. Irresponsible decisions can lead to serious consequences. Referring

closely to H.R. Ole Kulet's Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay in
support of this statement.

When people make decisions that are devoid of good judgement the results are
usually adverse. People like Ole Kaelo and Oloisudori suffer as a result of their
rash decision.

Ole Kaelo makes an irresponsible decision when he engages in business with

Oloisudori. When Ole Kaelo is retrenched from Agribix Limited, he chooses to
relocate to Nasila, his native home, with his family. Here, he opens a shop
dealing in Agricultural products. His business is funded by Oloisudori.
Oloisudori also helps him to secure some business contracts. He helps Ole
Kaelo to secure a 4 years' contract to supply all government institutions in
Nasila with agricultural inputs like fertilizer, seeds, herbicides, fungicides et
cetera. His mentor Ole Supeyo warns him against his involvement with
Oloisudori. He says that Oloisudori is corrupt. He equates him to a hyena and a
randy he-goat and cautions Ole Kaelo to keep him away from his daughters. Ole
Kaelo does not heed. This decision haunts him when Oloisudori asks for his
daughter Resians' hand in marriage. Resian has to be circumcised first. Her
dream is to enrol at Egerton University. When she learns of her father's plan,
she confronts him at his shop and he slaps her, further straining their
relationship. She runs to Nasila river where she contemplates suicide. Olarinkoi
finds her and promises to take her to Ntare naaju to meet Minik ene Nkoitoi,
who could help her pursue her education. Ole Kaelo's rash decision makes him
to lose his daughter. She leaves Nasila with Olarinkoi.

Mama Milanoi makes an unwise decision when she keeps a low profile when
her daughters are subjected to punitive cultural practices. When they relocate to
Nasila after Ole Kaelo is retrenched, Taiyo and Resian suffer the stigma of
being labelled "intoiye nemengalana". Ole Kaelo plans to circumcise Resian and
marry her off to Oloisudori. Mama Milanoi knows that her dream is to join
Egerton university and pursue a degree in Veterinary medicine. She however
fails to defend Resian against the pressure from society to have her circumcised
and married off against her will. She succumbs to the pressure of the Nasilian
culture. She knows that FGM is a tortorous and painful experience but she still
fails to speak to Ole Kaelo against it. She is privy to the details of having Resian
abducted and forcefully circumsised but she still remains silent. The painful
outcome of her subservience is that Resian esacpes from home with the help of
Olarinkoi and she eventually manages to meet Minik ene Nkoitoi and to enrol at
Egerton University. Mama Milanoi loses her daughter's trust.

Ole Kaelo suffers when he chooses to deny Resian and Taiyo a chance to pursue
their education at Egerton university. Parsimei Ole Kaelo instead asks Joseph
Parmuat, a teacher, to teach them cultural aspects of Nasila in preparation for
circumcision and marriage. Resians coaxes her sister Taiyo to speak to their
father about the prospect of joining Egerton University on so many occasions,
because she burns with passion for education. When she tries to ask her father,
he gets so angry at her. He warms up to the idea of marrying her to
Oloisudori. Ole Kaelo receives gifts and money from him. He fails to protect
her daughter from advances by the corrupt extortionist. Resian finally escapes
from Nasila with the help of Olarinkoi and later manages to meet Minik ene
Nkoitoi who helps her to finally leave for Nakuru to join Egerton university.
Oloisudori loses her as a result.
Oloisudori errs in his decision to follow Resian and Taiyo all the way to Ntare
naaju ranch. When his first choice for a wife, Resian, runs away with Olarinkoi,
the Kaelo's offer Taiyo as a replacement. Minik's men manage to rescue her
from Esoit village but not before she is circumcised. When he loses both of
them, Oloisudori pursues them upto Minik ene Nkoitoi's ranch. He knows that
Minik is referred to as 'entangoroi' or wasp but still chooses to confront her. He
demands for either Resian or Taiyo saying he has paid dowry enough for both.
Minik says that she will not release them even to their own father. She asks
Oloisudori to leave. He asks his men to grab Resian and then a pandemonium
ensues. Minik's 400 workers descend upon them and clobber them thoroughly
before torching his expensive vehicles and reducing them to smouldering shells.
Oloisudori loses his vehicles and still fails to get a wife even after spending a lot
of money, time and effort.

Olarinkoi makes two foolish decisions. First, he abducts Resian and then he
tries to rape her. When Resian runs away from home and is contemplating her
next course of action by the Nasila River, Olarinkoi arrives and tells her that
Oloisudori's men are looking for her all over. He offers to take her to Ntare
naaju to meet Minik her icon. She complies owing to the fact that she trusts him
since he has been a regular visitor at their home and he saves Taiyo and her
when the vagabonds, Ntara Muyo and Lante, try to rape them. Olarinkoi does
not keep his word. He instead takes her to Inkiito. He locks her up in a dingy
hut. That night he comes back stone drunk insisting that Resian is his wife. He
mocks her about her education and he forcefully grabs her tearing her clothes
and pushing her to the bed. She defends herself by pushing his thumb into her
mouth and sinking her teeth into it until he bleeds. She almost severes the
thumb. Olarinkoi suffers physically and also emotionally when he is
admonished by his mother until he goes into hiding due to shame. Nabaru, the
nurse, who was contracted by the mono-eyed woman to take care of Resian
after circumcision helps to rescue her when she brings a lorry driver, who takes
them to Ntare naaju. Apart from the physical and emotional pain, Olarinkoi
fails to get Resian as a wife as a result of his irresponsible decision.

Mama Milanoi makes an irresponsible decision when she tricks Taiyo into
circumcision. When Resian runs away with Olarinkoi to avoid marriage to
Oloisudori, Taiyo is offered as a replacement. Mama Milanoi allows her to
accompany the three women from Esoit. They lie to Taiyo that Resian is on a
hunger strike and has gone for three days without eating. They want her to
accompany them to Esoit for Resian's sake. She complies and accompanies
them happily since her mother assures her that their father had vowed never to
try to marry them by force to any man. At Esoit she is thrown into turmoil as no
one attends to her or talks about Resian. She is instead left in a dingy hut. The
next morning she is dragged out of the hut by a group of excited women, 20
litres of cold water is emptied on her head before she is forcibly circumcised by
'enkamuratani'. The ordearl is so painful that she passes out. She is later rescued
by Minik's men with the help of Joseph Parmuat, who tricks the guards guarding
her, with alcohol. The guards attempt to chase after Minik's men,pelting them
with stones, but they fail. Parmuat is speared to death. Mama Milanoi loses
Taiyo when she is taken to Minik's ranch.

Through characters like Oloisudori and Olarinkoi, we learn that foolish

decisions usually lead to bad consequences. We ought to think before we leap.
statement.
7. Women suffer in male-dominated societies. Write an essay to validate the
truth in this assertion basing your illustrations on Blossoms of the
Savannah.

In most societies, men hold primary power and influence. Blossoms of the
Savannah highlights the problems women suffer in a male-dominated society.
Resian, Taiyo, Mama Milanoi and Minik ene Nkoitoi suffer a myriad of
problems in Nasila.
Resian suffers for simply being born a girl. Ole Kaelo is infuriated when his
second born child turns out to be a girl. He had prayed for a boy and wanted at
least three boys. The society values boys more than girls. A boy would carry
the Kaelo's name to the next generation Ole Kaelo offers Resian as a sacrificial
lamb when Oloisudori comes looking for a wife. As much as she knows her
father hates her, she is shocked that he has the temerity to sell her to a man she
hates with a passion. Resian is always sad and aloof owing to her father's
mistreatment. Resian feels betrayed by her father and at one point considers
committing suicide. She is forced to run away from home with the help of
Olarinkoi. Surely, women in male-dominated societies suffer a great deal.
Men in Nasila use FGM to oppress women. Women are considered a wild
gender that has to be tamed through FGM. Girls who undergo FGM suffer
physical and psychological pain. Uncircumcised girls are mocked, derided and
contemptuously referred to as intoiye nemengalana. Circumcised girls are
considered decent and accorded respect. The subject of FGM makes Taiyo and
Resian feel squeamish, hopeless and downcast. Resian feels that FGM is useless
today and is only used by men to oppress women. Taiyo is duped and taken to
Esoit village, 5 kilometers away from Nasila, where she is forcibly circumcised.
She is dragged out of a hut, splashed with 20 litres of cold water, wrestled to the
ground and circumcised. The excruciating procedure is carried out using a
bladelike tool known as olmurunya. She faints and only regains consciousness
two days later. She even imagines she had died! Even after being rescued, she
suffers bouts of sickness, restlessness, weakness and pain. This all happened in
order for her to be married off to Oloisudori since men in Nasila do not marry
intoiye nemengalana.
In male-dominated societies, women suffer forced early marriages. When
Resian learns that she has to marry Oloisudori, she is thrown into a sea of
agony. Forced marriage is rampant in Nasila. Oloisudori and Olarinkoi try to
marry Resian forcefully. Resian's dream is to join Egerton University. Her
father, however, plans to marry her off to Oloisudori against her will. He makes
all these plans behind Resian's back. He receives cash and gifts from Oloisudori
knowing too well that Resian only values university education. Oloisudori even
considers rendering Resian unconscious should she decline his proposal. At
Inkiito, Resian realizes that many girls are married to old men. One girl is
eighteen and her husband is about seventy five. Such girls live in squalor
conditions. To avoid marrying Oloisudori, Resian runs away from home. She
endures an agonising 3-week stay at Inkiito battling hostile hosts, mosquitoes,
hunger and physical injury. Surely, she suffers a lot when her father tries to
marry her off without her consent.
In Nasila, Resian and Taiyo suffer sexual exploitation since they are not
circumcised. They are mocked and chided by strangers. Two vagabonds attempt
to molest them. Like most men in Nasila, Ntara and Lante do not respect
women. When they first meet, Oloisudori harasses Resian despite her being too
young for him. She describes him as an ill-mannered devil. At Inkiito, Olarinkoi
unsuccessfully tries to rape Resian. He comes home drunk as a skunk and
demands for food from her. He then tries to molest her. She fights back fiercely
and bites his thumb. Olarinkoi then assaults her viciously rendering her
unconscious. For a couple of weeks that follow, Resian endures pain from the
attack. Resian and Taiyo undergo physical and emotional anguish in the hands
of men who abuse their privacy.
Women in Nasila suffer because they are voiceless. Mama Milanoi is voiceless
when her husband plans to marry off Resian to Oloisudori. She cannot even
dissuade him from circumcising their daughters. In Nasila, it is men who make
decisions. Mama Milanoi suffers sleepless nights pondering in pain owing to the
excruciating experience awaiting her daughters yet she remains voiceless.
Mama Milanoi is in a dilemma because she is torn between being a dutiful Maa
wife and being a protective mother to Taiyo and Resian. As a subservient Maa
wife, she has little choice but to submit to her husband and Nasila cultural
dictates. She is baffled that an old man like Oloisudori could marry Resian,
something that was unheard off during her childhood days. She visits and talks
to other women like Yeiyo bottor in an attempt to avert the marriage. The
thoughts of early marriage and circumcision take her through mental torture yet
the male-dominated society gags her and renders her voiceless. She suffers in
silence.
Minik ene Nkoitoi is treated contemptuously by men in Nasila. Men like
Simiren and Ole Musanka hate her passionately. She is referred to as entagoroi,
a derogatory name for a sharp-tongued woman. When she tries to stop Simiren
from circumcising her daughters and marrying them off to old men, he chases
her away and almost assaults her physically. Ole Musanka curses her that “she
may go down with the setting sun”. Even women in Nasila call her a witch.
Minik ene Nkoitoi suffers mistreatment and alienation in Nasila simply because
she fights archaic practices like early marriages and FGM, which are
perpetuated and fueled by men, with a view of oppressing women.
In summary, it is clear that women suffer in male dominated societies.

8. Basing your illustrations on Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay to

negate the saying “Blood is thicker than water” (20 marks)
Actions by some characters in Blossoms of the Savannah tend to negate the
saying ‘blood is thicker than water.’ We expect family bonds to be the strongest
and the loyalty to be true yet that is not the case. Ole Kaelo and Mama Milanoi
put their daughters Taiyo and Resian through harrowing experiences and
ironically, they get help from strangers such as Nabaru and Minik ene Nkoitoi.
Ole Kaelo’s actions go against the saying blood is thicker than water. Although
he is Resian’s father, he abhors her for no apparent reason. Ole Kaelo
intimidates Resian so much and she only finds solace in her sister Taiyo. Ole
Kaelo teams up with Oloisudori to hatch an evil plan to kidnap Resian,
anesthetize her and have her circumcised should she turn down Oloisudori’s
proposal. He is against her ambitions of joining Egerton University with
the intention of marrying her off to an old man she hates. This indeed negates
the saying; blood is thicker than water.
Mama Milanoi’s actions also negate the saying blood is thicker than water. In
the face of Resian’s constant intimidation by her own father, Mama Milanoi
fails to protect her. Resian constantly rushes to Taiyo for a shoulder to lean on.
She also deceives Taiyo using Resian’s plight, to accompany the three women
to Esoit where she is savagely circumcised against her will. Surprisingly, Taiyo
is rescued by Joseph Parmuat, who is not a blood relative; sadly, he loses his
life. Indeed, this is a testament that family bonds may sometimes be the weak
link in a relationship.
Taiyo’s experiences in Nasila prove that sometimes family ties are not the
strongest ties. Her father is clearly inconsiderate of her feelings and needs when
he denies her a chance to attend a music extravaganza in Mombasa. When she is
kidnapped, help comes from unexpected quarters. She is rescued by Minik ene
Nkoitoi’s team. Joseph Parmuat, a distant clan member, sacrifices himself
for Taiyo’s sake when her parents seem indifferent. Indeed; this negates the
saying blood is thicker than water.
Lastly, Nabaru the enkabaani cares for Resian more than her mother does.
Resian even calls her a “God given mother”. Although they are not related,
Nabaru proves to be caring and motherly. She tends to Resian following the
nasty beating she received from Olarinkoi. When her father tries to forcefully
marry her off to Oloisudori, Resian escapes to Inkiito with the help of
Olarinkoi; little does she know that he has ulterior motives. He attempts to rape
her and hurts her badly. During her 3 weeks stay at Inkiito, Resian receives
tender care in terms of medical attention and food
from Nabaru. She is not only a loving and caring mother to her, but also a
valuable friend and confidant. She also rescues her from the hands of Olarinkoi
and his evil mother Enkoiboni despite the fact that she has been paid
handsomely in order to be part of the scheme. This also negates the popular
belief that blood is thicker
than water.
To sum up, Mama Milanoi and Ole Kaelo prove that family members can turn
out to be our greatest enemies and occasionally help comes from people who
are not necessarily related to us.

9. Determination leads to victory. Write an essay to qualify this claim

basing your illustration on H.E Ole Kulet’s Blossoms of the Savannah (20
marks)
Trying to achieve something difficult relentlessly and resolutely always results
in success. In other words, steadfastness pays off. In Blossoms of the Savannah
Resian’s strength of will pays off when she beats all the challenges and
manages to go to the university against all odds. She breaks the shackles of
unsupportive parents, archaic cultural practices of FGM and early marriages
and cruel patriarchal beliefs to achieve her dream of enrolling at Egerton
University. Resian is determined to join Egerton University to pursue a
course in Veterinary Medicine, a dream she manages to achieve. From
the onset, Resian is resolute about her ambition of joining Egerton University.
She obstinately urges her sister to talk to their father about their prospect of
returning to Nakuru to enroll at Egerton University. Although her father does
not support this, she still fights determinedly until she achieves her dream.
Her determination makes her trust Olarinkoi who has promised to take her to
Ntare-naaju ranch to meet Emakererei who is to aid her pursue her dream. The
journey is tumultuous but she beats all odds and finally departs for Egerton on
5th September.

Resian is determined to cheat the cultural expectations and

remain uncircumcised, a feat she manages to achieve. When Ole Kaelo relocates
to Nasila from Nakuru, there is immense pressure on him to circumcise his girls
to evade the derogatory title of father to intoiye nemengalana (uncircumcised
girls). He is torn between the Nasila culture and his daughter’s liberty and
needs. Some men like Ole Supeyo circumcised all their girls and married them
off to prominent men in Nasila. He says that women have to be circumcised to
control their wild nature. Ole Musanka, a dignified elder insists that girls must
be circumcised. Other women like Enkamuratani, Enkasakatoni and
Enkaitoyoni also vehemently support the cut. She risks her life by blindly
trusting Olarinkoi with sheer need to escape the cut. She manages to escape
from Nasila to Ntare-naaju albeit through difficult situations. Eventually,
she escapes both FGM and early marriage.
Resian also manages to escape the suffocating chains of patriarchy when
accosted by Oloisudori; she manages to escape forced marriage to an old man
due to her steely steadfastness. Oloisudori hatches a heartless plan to have
Resian kidnapped and even anesthetized if need be. He plans to forcefully have
her circumcised and to marry her as a sixth wife. He manages to arm twist Ole
Kaelo into accepting the deal by using gifts including 500,000 shillings and a
mansion for Resian in Milimani-Nakuru.
Resian is neither lured nor sucked in by Oloisudori’s pompous show of financial
might. She calls him mad and says she can only marry him over her dead body.
Even though Oloisudori, Ole Kaelo and Mama Milanoi conspire to have her
married to Oloisudori, her sheer determination helps her to avoid this.
Resian manages to fight off Olarinkoi who is led to believe that their impending
marriage is destiny as prophesied by her diviner mother. She prophesied that
Olarinkoi would live with the Kaelos and later marry one of his daughters. He
kidnaps her and hides her in a dungeon in the sleepy village of Inkiito after
deceiving her. He even tries to rape her. Resian’s courage and determination is
seen when she fights bravely and bites him badly while defending herself. She
endures harrowing life in Olarinkoi’s hut that is crawling with rats, lizards and
snakes. She remembers the Biblical story of Job and how he triumphed because
of perseverance.
Eventually she manages to escape with the help of Nabaru the enkabaani.
Inspired by her bravery and determination, Nabaru walks through the dangerous
Inkiito terrain until she finds and convinces a lorry driver to make a detour in
order to help Resian.
Finally, she meets Minik ene Nkoitoi, who helps her to enroll at Egerton
University. Resian beats all odds and achieves her dreams.
Surely, determination leads to victory.

10. “Our greatest enemies are those close to us.” Basing your argument on
H.E Ole Kulet’s Blossoms of the Savannah write an essay to qualify this
assertion. (20 Marks)
More often than not, we are harmed or betrayed by those close to us. Our close
family members, trusted friends, or other relatives sometimes turn out to be our
biggest adversaries. In Blossoms of the Savannah Mama Milanoi betrays her
own daughter Taiyo when she deceives her and has her savagely circumcised
against her will. Other characters that highlight this vice are Oloisudori and Ole
Kaelo.
Parsimei Ole Kaelo is an enemy to his own daughter Resian. He has abhorred
her since she was born because he expected a boy. He plans to have Resian
forcefully circumcised and married off to a sly
and cunning extortionist Mr. Oloisudori, a man she vehemently hates.
Oloisudori financed Ole Kaelo’s businesses and helped him to acquire a
magnificent home in Nasila. He uses his guile and money to lure Ole Kaelo and
Mama Milanoi into accepting his odd demand. Ole Kaelo schemes with
Oloisudori to have his own daughter kidnapped and anesthetized should she
turn down his proposal. He equates her to a stubborn kid that refuses to
suckle. Ultimately, Ole Kaelo fails in his bid to please Oloisudori and to fulfill
his own avarice since Resian escapes, leaving them reeling in turmoil.
Oloisudori Loonkiya turns out to be an enemy to Ole Kaelo. They are friends
and business allies. Although he knows that Oloisudori is a criminal, he does
not expect him to betray their friendship. When Oloisudori visits Ole Kaelo’s
home and meets Resian he falls in love with her and demands to marry her. She
also has to be circumcised. Oloisudori is an old man while Resian is still
a teenager. Ole Kaelo is shocked by this strange demand and beseeches him to
drop it and ask for anything else. Oloisudori uses his financial strength and
emotional blackmail to convince Ole Kaelo to bless the union. He gives him
500,000 shillings as dowry. This evil scheme fails when Resian tells Oloisudori
off in his face and escapes. Oloisudori later faces the wrath of Minik
ene Nkoitoi and his vehicles are destroyed.
Olarinkoi betrays Resian’s trust. He looks odd but seemingly harmless. He is
accepted into the Kaelo homestead where he visits freely and eats together with
them. He deceives them with food supplies. He earns Resian’s trust when he
rescues Taiyo and her from their would-be rapists Ntara and Lante. He turns out
to be Resian’s foe when he deceives and kidnaps her taking her to
Inkiito instead of Ntare-naaju. He plans to have her circumcised and to marry
her and escape with her to Tanzania. He attempts to rape her and causes
grievous bodily harm on her. His evil scheme also fails when Nabaru helps
Resian to escape from his home. He is also forced into hiding after his
shameless rape attempt.
Mama Milanoi is an adversary to her own daughters. She fails to speak up for
them but instead selfishly guards her marriage. She is scared to ask her husband
to let them join Egerton University. In the face of constant intimidation, she
fails to offer her protective wings to Resian who only finds solace in Taiyo. She
is privy to the evil scheme to have Resian kidnapped and forcefully
circumcised and married to Oloisudori but she remains callously
indifferent. She laughs when Ole Kaelo compares her to an obstinate kid.
She also blatantly lies and convinces Taiyo to follow the three women to Esoit
where she is brutally circumcised. Surely, our family members turn out to be
our biggest foes.
Lastly, Ntara son of Muyo betrays Resian and Taiyo. He is their relative.
Although he is of the Ilukumae clan, he is their first cousin. He is a son of
Mama Milanoi’s sister who married Muyo an elder. He accosts them while in
the company of Lante son of Kanyira and attempts to rape them. In the scuffle
that ensues, the girls are injured. They are rescued by Olarinkoi. It is odd that
he tries to rape his own cousins. He is later apprehended and beaten up
mercilessly. He is also fined three heifers. In conclusion, the events in Blossoms
of the Savannah prove that those close to us turn out to be our greatest
adversaries.

11. “Individuals who are selfless and determined are always rewarded in
life”. Using illustrations from the novel Blossoms of the Savannah, write an
essay in support of this statement. (20 Marks)
Some individuals show great concern for other people by sacrificing their
valuable time and possession for others. Their steadfast spirit coupled with their
selflessness always results in success. In Blossoms of the Savannah Minik ene
Nkoitoi and Nabaru are characters who are rewarded for such acts of
kindness. They achieve what they set out to do.
Minik ene Nkoitoi is not only selfless but also determined. Her resoluteness
pays off. First, she manages to go to Makerere University to pursue a course in
veterinary medicine, which is no mean feat for a Maa woman. For instance, all
of Ole Supeyo’s daughters were circumcised and married off to prominent
Nasilian elders. Although Minik was also circumcised, that does not hinder her
from achieving her dreams. She manages a sheep ranch at Ntare-naaju. Unlike
other Maa women who subserviently coil before men, ene Nkoitoi remains an
assertive individual who succeeds because of her resoluteness.
Apart from her success in education and career, Minik also succeeds in her fight
against needless cultural practices like FGM. She relentlessly puts up a spirited
fight against FGM and early marriages. She faces stiff resistance from
conservative chauvinists such as Ole Supeyo, Ole Musanka and Oloisudori but
she stays steadfast in her quest to abolish the inessential traditions. Even fellow
women like enkamuratani, enkasakatoni and enkaitoyoni fuel the practices
further. Minik has been labeled entagoroi (wasp) but she does not relent. Due to
her selflessness she manages to rescue five hundred thousand girls and
sacrifices her valuable time and resources to make them comfortable. Resian
and Taiyo also benefit from her selfless nature. She accommodates and feeds
them and enables them to join Egerton University. Indeed, Selfless
and determined characters always succeed.
Nabaru is also both selfless and determined. When Olarinkoi deceives and
kidnaps Resian and takes her to Inkiito instead of Ntare-naaju, Nabaru’s help
comes in handy. She nurses and feeds Resian like her own daughter. She gives
her water, milk, bits of olpurda, pounded mutton and ugali. She reveals the evil
plan that enkoiboni has for Resian. She selflessly nurses and feeds Resian
for over 12 days. Although she has been paid handsomely, she abandons the
initial plan and chooses to help Resian. In her Resian finds not only a loving and
caring mother but also a valuable friend and confidant. She makes Resian
comfortable by making her a bed using her two blankets. She manages to make
Resian’s stay at Inkiito a bit bearable. She succeeds since selfless individuals
more often than not achieve success.
Nabaru is also determined to help Resian escape the cut and marriage to
Olarinkoi; she succeeds. She walks a long distance to the next shopping centre
to find a driver, Lebutu, and convinces him to help her rescue Resian. She
makes a daring and determined trek considering the terrain was dangerous and
riddled with wild animals. She succeeds since she ensures Resian arrives safely
at Ntare-naaju and meets her role model Minik ene Nkoitoi, the emakererei.
Resian refers to her as yeiyo-ai-nanyorr which means my beloved mother.
Nabaru’s resolute spirit helps Resian evade circumcision and marriage and
instead get chance to join her dream institution- Egerton University. Olarinkoi
and enkoiboni fail terribly but Nabaru succeeds.
In conclusion, it is indeed true to say selfless and determined individuals are
usually rewarded in life.

11. “Bad deeds always go unrewarded.” Write a composition to support

this assertion basing your illustration on HR Ole Kulet’s Blossoms of the
Savannah. (20 Marks)
Individuals who commit atrocities more often than not fail to achieve whatever
they are trying to achieve. Some individuals do shocking or cruel things due to
their selfishness but they never succeed. In Blossoms of the Savannah,
Olarinkoi, who tries to rape Resian, is hurt and humiliated and he fails to marry
her. Ole Kaelo and Oloisudori’s atrocities also fail to bear fruits.
Oloisudori plans to forcefully circumcise and marry Resian against her will but
he fails terribly. Oloisudori is a sly extortionist tricks Ole Kaelo (Resian’s
father) into a business partnership. After helping Ole Kaelo secures several
lucrative contracts, he demands to marry Resian forcefully. Resian hates him
since he acts suggestively when the first meet. Ole Supeyo had earlier
cautioned Ole Kaelo about his randy traits. He tries to woo her with gifts
such as a golden brooch and bracelet and a spectacular house which she duly
hands back. He hatches a callous plan to have Resian kidnapped and
anesthetized should she turn down the proposal. He fails terribly since Resian
calls him mad and says he can only marry her over her dead body. Even after
spending millions of shillings and using unethical means to get a wife,
Oloisudori fails to get Resian hand in marriage.
Olarinkoi, who kidnaps Resian with a view of marrying her, is unrewarded.
Olarinkoi is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He pretends to be a friend to the Kaelos
when he lives with them. He rescues Taiyo and Resian when Ntara and Lante
try to rape them thus earning Resian’s trust. He tricks Resian into believing that
he will take her to Ntare-naaju to meet Minik ene Nkoitoi, and avoid
circumcision and marriage to Oloisudori. Instead he takes her to Inkiito
village where he tries to rape her and assaults her until she passes out. Resian’s
journey to Inkiito and the stay there is harrowing. Luckily she escapes with the
help of Nabaru. Thus Olarinkoi fails to marry her. He is also forced into hiding
due to shame and nearly loses a finger when Resian almost severs it. Surely, bad
deeds always go unrewarded.
Ole Kaelo’s greed for material possession does not bear fruits. Ole Kaelo is
sucked in by Oloisudori’s opulence and apparent generosity that he fails to see
the danger he exposes himself and his family into. After getting into a business
partnership with Oloisudori, he is thrown into turmoil when Oloisudori
demands to marry Resian. He is faced with a dilemma of either losing
his daughter’s faith and love or losing his lucrative contracts and possibly his
magnificent house. After visiting Oloisudori’s palatial homes, Ole Kaelo
chooses wealth over Resian’s happiness. He warms up to the idea of having
Resian kidnapped and anesthetized. He receives 500, 000 shillings among other
gifts but fails to have Resian marry Oloisudori. She runs away from home
leaving his father confused! His evil plans prove futile.
Mama Milanoi selfishly guards her marriage at the expense of her daughter’s
happiness. She is a conservative conformist who remains subservient and fails
to protect Taiyo and Resian. When they move to Nasila, she is delighted since
her daughters would be married by prominent men. She is, however, stuck
between the devil and the deep, blue sea of either losing her daughters’ faith and
love or going against the Nasila traditions. She deceives Taiyo and aids three
women to abduct her and whisk her away to Esoit village where she is
forcefully and brutally circumcised. She hopes to have her married to
Oloisudori so that they keep the business contracts and maintain the enviable
living standards in Nasila. Her plan fails since Taiyo is rescued by Minik ene
Nkoitoi’s team and taken to Ntare-naaju where she joins other girls. Resian and
she swear never to be subservient like their mother! Indeed, bad deeds always
go unrewarded.
In conclusion, bad deeds never bear any fruits instead the perpetrators fail
terribly.
6. Irresponsible decisions can lead to serious consequences. Referring closely to
H.R. Ole Kulet's Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay in support of this
statement.
When people make decisions that are devoid of good judgement the results are
usually adverse. People like Ole Kaelo and Oloisudori suffer as a result of their
rash decision. Ole Kaelo makes an irresponsible decision when he engages
in business with Oloisudori. When Ole Kaelo is retrenched from Agribix
Limited, he chooses to relocate to Nasila, his native home, with his family.
Here, he opens a shop dealing in Agricultural products. His business is funded
by Oloisudori. Oloisudori also helps him to secure some business contracts. He
helps Ole Kaelo to secure a 4 years' contract to supply all government
institutions in Nasila with agricultural inputs like fertilizer, seeds,
herbicides, fungicides et cetera. His mentor Ole Supeyo warns him against
his involvement with Oloisudori. He says that Oloisudori is corrupt. He equates
him to a hyena and a randy he-goat and cautions Ole Kaelo to keep him away
from his daughters. Ole Kaelo does not heed. This decision haunts him when
Oloisudori asks for his daughter Resians' hand in marriage. Resian has to be
circumcised first. Her dream is to enrol at Egerton University. When she learns
of her father's plan, she confronts him at his shop and he slaps her, further
straining their relationship. She runs to Nasila river where she contemplates
suicide. Olarinkoi finds her and promises to take her to Ntare naaju to meet
Minik ene Nkoitoi, who could help her pursue her education. Ole Kaelo's rash
decision makes him to lose his daughter. She leaves Nasila with Olarinkoi.
Mama Milanoi makes an unwise decision when she keeps a low profile when
her daughters are subjected to punitive cultural practices. When they relocate to
Nasila after Ole Kaelo is retrenched, Taiyo and Resian suffer the stigma of
being labelled "intoiye nemengalana". Ole Kaelo plans to circumcise Resian
and marry her off to Oloisudori. Mama Milanoi knows that her dream is to join
Egerton university and pursue a degree in Veterinary medicine. She however
fails to defend Resian against the pressure from society to have her circumcised
and married off against her will. She succumbs to the pressure of the Nasilian
culture. She knows that FGM is a tortorous and painful experience but she
still fails to speak to Ole Kaelo against it. She is privy to the details of having
Resian abducted and forcefully circumsised but she still remains silent. The
painful outcome of her subservience is that
Resian escapes from home with the help of Olarinkoi and she eventually
manages to meet Minik ene Nkoitoi and to enrol at Egerton University. Mama
Milanoi loses her daughter's trust. Ole Kaelo suffers when he chooses to deny
Resian and Taiyo a chance to pursue their education at Egerton university.
Parsimei Ole Kaelo instead asks Joseph Parmuat, a teacher, to teach
them cultural aspects of Nasila in preparation for circumcision and marriage.
Resians coaxes her sister Taiyo to speak to their father about the prospect of
joining Egerton University on so many occasions, because she burns with
passion for education. When she tries to ask her father, he gets so angry at her.
He warms up to the idea of marrying her to Oloisudori. Ole Kaelo receives gifts
and money from him. He fails to protect her daughter from advances by the
corrupt extortionist. Resian finally escapes from Nasila with the help of
Olarinkoi and later manages to meet Minik ene Nkoitoi who helps her to finally
leave for Nakuru to join Egerton university. Oloisudori loses her as a result.
Oloisudori errs in his decision to follow Resian and Taiyo all the way to Ntare
naaju ranch. When his first choice for a wife, Resian, runs away with Olarinkoi,
the Kaelo's offer Taiyo as a replacement. Minik's men manage to rescue her
from Esoit village but not before she is circumcised. When he loses both of
them, Oloisudori pursues them upto Minik ene Nkoitoi's ranch. He knows that
Minik is referred to as 'entangoroi' or wasp but still chooses to confront her. He
demands for either Resian or Taiyo saying he has paid dowry enough for both.
Minik says that she will not release them even to their own father. She asks
Oloisudori to leave. He asks his men to grab Resian and then a pandemonium
ensues. Minik's 400 workers descend upon them and clobber them thoroughly
before torching his expensive vehicles and reducing them to smouldering
shells. Oloisudori loses his vehicles and still fails to get a wife even
after spending a lot of money, time and effort.
Olarinkoi makes two foolish decisions. First, he abducts Resian and then he
tries to rape her. When Resian runs away from home and is contemplating her
next course of action by the Nasila River, Olarinkoi arrives and tells her that
Oloisudori's men are looking for her all over. He offers to take her to Ntare
naaju to meet Minik her icon. She complies owing to the fact that she trusts him
since he has been a regular visitor at their home and he saves Taiyo and
her when the vagabonds, Ntara Muyo and Lante, try to rape them. Olarinkoi
does not keep his word. He instead takes her to Inkiito. He locks her up in a
dingy hut. That night he comes back stone drunk insisting that Resian is his
wife. He mocks her about her education and he forcefully grabs her tearing her
clothes and pushing her to the bed. She defends herself by pushing his
thumb into her mouth and sinking her teeth into it until he bleeds. She almost
severes the thumb. Olarinkoi suffers physically and also emotionally when he is
admonished by his mother until he goes into hiding due to shame. Nabaru, the
nurse, who was contracted by the mono-eyed woman to take care of Resian
after circumcision helps to rescue her when she brings a lorry driver, who takes
them to Ntare naaju. Apart from the physical and emotional pain, Olarinkoi fails
to get Resian as a wife as a result of his irresponsible decision.
Mama Milanoi makes an irresponsible decision when she tricks Taiyo into
circumcision. When Resian runs away with Olarinkoi to avoid marriage to
Oloisudori, Taiyo is offered as a replacement. Mama Milanoi allows her to
accompany the three women from Esoit. They lie to Taiyo that Resian is on a
hunger strike and has gone for three days without eating. They want her to
accompany them to Esoit for Resian's sake. She complies and
accompanies them happily since her mother assures her that their father
had vowed never to try to marry them by force to any man. At Esoit she is
thrown into turmoil as no one attends to her or talks about Resian. She is instead
left in a dingy hut. The next morning she is dragged out of the hut by a group of
excited women, 20 litres of cold water is emptied on her head before she is
forcefully circumcised by 'enkamuratani'. The ordearl is so painful that
she passes out. She is later rescued by Minik's men with the help of Joseph
Parmuat, who tricks the guards guarding her, with alcohol. The guards attempt
to chase after Minik's men,pelting them with stones, but they fail. Parmuat is
speared to death. Mama Milanoi loses Taiyo when she is taken to Minik's
ranch.
Through characters like Oloisudori and Olarinkoi, we learn that foolish
decisions usually lead to bad consequences. We ought to think before we leap.

12. "Though Resian goes through the valley of death, her determination
leads her to a victorious life." Write a composition to show the validity of
this assertion.

Resian in the Blossoms of the Savannah seems to experience several

challenging
situations in her life. In the scenarios she seems resolute in her actions as shown
in the following ways

Oloisudori declares his intention of marrying her at an early age. This follows
after he changes his initial plan: extorting Kaelo. He demands that she should
first be
circumcised so as to get rid of her state as nemengalana intoiye. He intends to
use
anesthesia to make her unconscious and grab her. Resian resolves not to be
married.She tells Oloisudori point blank that she cannot be his wife. She returns
the gifts that he had earlier brought and escapes to her father's shop. Her father
beats her so as to submit to the marriage, but Resian remains steady is her
decision.

A number of callous youth in Nasila wish to assault Resian and Taiyo. In the
first days,Resian and Taiyo take a walk around uncle Simiren compound. All of
a sudden a young man emerges from the blues and grabs Taiyo. Resian order
the callous young man to release Taiyo immediately. The Young man has no
option but to give in though he promises to revisit his grave decision.

Though in a dream, enkamuratani and other two women surround Resian to

circumcise her holding an olmurunya. Although Resian is in a strange land and
is defenseless she does her best to combat the situation. Determined, Resian
twists enkamuratani's hand with an intention of ensuring that she does not
initiate other girls in the future. She knocks the old witch using a mallet as well
as fights the third woman until she disappears.

Olarinkoi disappears with Resian to a far hut in the forest. He locks her up and
returns very late in the night while drank. Once he returns, he is in his mission
of raping her. He unzips and this gesture sets her trembling. She bites
Olarinkoi's thumb so that the pain
reduces his action of rape. Owing to the fact that Resian had earlier witnessed
Olarinkoi's fiery attacks when he dealt with two callous men, it calls for a lot of
determination on the part of Resian to tackle him.

In summary, from the above illustrations it is evident that Resian suffers rough
challenging times in her life but she deals with all these situations with
determination.
13. "The strong bond between Resian and Taiyo contributes significantly to
their
triumph." Write an essay in support of the statement.

No man is an island. Human beings were created to relate mutually. The close
friendship between Resian and Taiyo is the key to overcoming stormy times that
present themselves in their lives as follows:

In their new environment at Nasila, the girls meet unique challenges. They are
not used to the communal life for all along they have stayed in an urban set up
where life is individualistic. At Nasila, they have to get used to impromptu
visitors and superior male counterparts. It is the love between the two girls that
helps in these scenarios. The duo stay together most of the times. By so doing,
they share a lot Taiyo counsels Resian on using kind language on Yeiyo Botorr
her aunt. The two girls discuss about danger that lurks from the hostile youth
especially because of their uncircumcised condition.

In overcoming the challenge of female genital mutilation (FGM), their

friendship bond comes in handy. When Resian goes on a hunger strike she says
it is only Taiyo who can change her stand. When Taiyo is informed of Resian's
condition, she does not hesitate to offer herself for Resian's redemption even
when there are risks all over. While at Nasila, they have a lot of time sharing
their views towards FGM. The discussions must have strengthened their hard
stands towards FGM. It is from these discussions that they vow never to give in
to FGM.

In the incident when Taiyo and Resian are accosted by two callous young men
their coordination and friendship save them. The incident finds them while they
are walking together where they had visited Maiso for lunch. If the struggle had
between two men versus one girl probably she would have been surmounted.
Although most of the salvation is largely brought by Olarinkoi the fact that the
two girls where together makesit easier for them to go about the ordeal. Their
joint screaming and their escape unhurt is partly contributed by their
togetherness.
The two birds of a feather hatch a scheme to outwit Oloisudori. They wrap the
gifts he had brought them into a box and title it as a gift. They then plan how to
execute the plan.They arrange on how Resian is to thank Oloisudori and give
him the gift. They discuss the aim of the gesture; to clarify to Oloisudori the fact
they cannot be cheated with gifts.From this co-operation, Resian manages to
trick Oloisudori and tells off her father and later with Olarinkoi, they manage to
leave Nasila.
It is clear from the above illustration that strong friendship bonds can help
friend go about hard experiences and overcome them in their lives.

14. Bad decisions can adversely affect our lives. Write an essay in support
of the
statement with illustrations from the novel.

The Choices we make can affect us positively or negatively. Bad choices

definitely have adverse effects on our future. A character like Ole Kaelo makes
several bad choices which not only affect his life but also his daughters.
Ole Kaelo is advised by his friend what kind of man Oloisudori is. He is told
that he is not a man of integrity and warns him about doing business with him.
He even warns him to keep his daughters from him. Oloisudori is unheeding to
this warning. He goes on to sign business contracts and receiving a loan from
him. Later, this man causes him great worry when he threatens to bring his
business down if he does not give him his daughter in marriage.

Ole Kaelo makes the bad choice of agreeing to give his daughter Resian in
marriage to Oloisudori. He does this to save his business empire and to acquire
more wealth as dowry from him. This unleashes a myriad of problems in his
family. He keeps assuring himself that his choice of Oloisudori is good and that
the man is not all bad but inwardly,he has reservations about such a marriage.
His decision worsens the already poor relationship between him and his
daughter, who ran away and gets into more trouble with Olarinkoi. Taiyo also
has her life ruined by being forcefully circumcised before being forced to marry
Oloisudori. Finally, he loses his daughters trust and his fate is unknown because
Oloisudori might come for him in person.
Olarinkoi is not known by the Kaelos yet nobody asks questions about him. He
seems a mystery and with time becomes like a member of the family. This earns
him trust among the Kaelos to the point that Resian trusts him to take her to
Minik's ranch. This man who the family trusted so much turns into a beast by
raping Resian and even planning to circumcise her by force before marrying
her. If the Kaelo's had not trusted the stranger, Resian suffering in his hands
would have been avoided.

Mama Milanoi makes a bad choice of giving over her daughter Taiyo to three
strangem women cheating her that she was being taken to her sister. Her plans
is to have Taiyo circumcised before being married by Oloisudori. This action
makes her lose the trust her daughters had for her. The wound she has caused
them will definitely take time to heal. They too are angry with her that they vow
that they would not want to be like her in marriage.

Bad decisions made knowingly or unknowingly will definitely have negative

impact in
our lives or on those that are dear to us.

15. Gender inequality is tantamount to violation of human rights. Write an

essay in support of the assertion drawing your illustrations from Blossoms
of the Savannah.

Today's position on the male and female gender is that men and women are
equal and none of the gender should dominate over the other. In Blossoms of
the Savannah, women are culturally forced to be subservient to men, a practice
that denies them some fundamental rights as human beings.

A wife has the right to state his position on any matter even if it is contrary to
the
husband's position. This is not the case with Mama Milanoi, wife to Ole Kaelo.
She admits that she did not know which man her husband was doing business
with and even if she did, she would not do anything about it for he was the one
who carried the family's vision. She thus leaves every aspect of decision making
to him whether those
decisions are good or bad.
A woman is a being to be loved and not to love back. Although Ole Kaelo
genuinely loved Mama Milanoi when he saw her first, her feelings on him are
immaterial. Women were not expected to resist a man's advances according to
Nasilian culture. This is a great violation of her right to love or hate. In her case
there is no room for that. It is also expected that Resian should give in to
Oloisudori's plans to marry her. Refusal is regarded as stubbornness. In fact,
Oloisudori claims that none of his wives put any resistance in his interest in
them. This means that their feelings for him did not matter a great violation of
their freedom to choose their marriage partner.

Resian and Taiyo are forced to undergo cultural coaching by Joseph Parmuat.
Resian rebels this citing inequality in the plan. She opines that if they were
boys, such a thing would not be done on them. Instead, they would be freely
roaming Nasila with nobody bothering them. In their case, there is no such
option simply because they are girls.Their right to choose what to and not to
learn is violated. Girls are taught how to cook for their men but there are no
lessons for boys on how to please women. Resian opposes such arrangements
saying she would not be taught to solely please men. She claims that even boys
should be taught how to please women.

Gender inequality in this society elevates man over the woman to the extent that
Resian says that it made men assume that they had right over the body of any
woman. This has reduced women to be objects of sex to be exploited by men at
will. This practice started with the Ilarinkon warriors who sexually exploited
women after arousing their desires.
Taiyo and Resian undergo several rape attempts with Resian ending up being
raped by Olarinkoi who assumes he has every right over her body. These
inequalities have greatly undermined women's right to privacy and to choose
whom to have sexual relation with.

Gender inequality does not just stop at that. Instead, it is a major cause of
violation of basic human rights that all should be accorded a chance to enjoy.
Women in the novel have most of their rights curtailed as a result of gender
imbalance between men and women.
16. Help can come when least expected. Discuss.

Most people reach the end of the tether in difficult situations and are just about
to give up when help comes. Most instances of help appear coincidental but
nonetheless; they change the course of life of the character as well as shaping
the rest of the novel.

Olarinkoi seems to be at the right place at the right time. He happens to be the
savior of Resian and Taiyo when they need help most. He comes to the rescue
of the two girls when they are coming from their father's shop and are about to
be raped by two men.Olarinkoi single-handedly saves the girls by fighting the
men. Resian and Taiyo are much grateful and would not want to imagine what
would have happened if he had not come at that time, even fearing that they
would have been infected with HIV.

Olarinkoi again comes to the rescue of Resian when she discovers her father's
betrayal by planning to marry her off to Oloisudori. He comes to her rescue
when she is even contemplating committing suicide by drowning herself into
the river. At the same time, Oloisudori and his men are looking for her to abduct
her. Olarinkoi promises to take her to Minik whom she had been yearning to
meet someday. Although the help turns disastrous with Olarinkoi turning
against her, she is able to escape the current wrath of Oloisudori.

Taiyo is rescued from the hands of her circumcisers by Minik's men. Minik's
rescue team use tricks to rescue her from the well-guarded home which she
would not have escaped in her sickly state. Were it not for Minik's intervention,
Taiyo would surely have been forcefully married off to Oloisudori after healing.
The rescue gives Taiyo a new
lease of life, reunion with her sister and of course quicker physical and
emotional
recovery.

Minik's help to Resian and Taiyo perhaps is the most important event that
completely changes their lives. She gives refugee to the girls in her ranch hence
protecting them from marauding men like Oloisudori and Olarinkoi. She gives
Resian a job in the ranch hence giving her something to live on and promises
her a scholarship from the ranch. Most importantly, she is able to have the two
girls enrolled at Egerton University, their dream university. These kind gestures
create a happy ending in a novel that has been dominated by sad events.

When people are about to despair, that is usually the point when help comes. No
matter how belated characters like Resian and Taiyo get help, their lives are
greatly impacted and changed by those interventions.