Agreed. I am not sure what is genesis of this. What I know majority of pastoralist have natural disdain for menial or manual labour especially of agricluture labour. This is also true for Indians - where there is caste system - where some are meant to do manual labour - others not. I know the cows we keep came from Indian/Asian - what I dont know if this disdain for menial labour was imported with cows or started as pastoralist invention.
Kalenjin have no problem doing manly work. This could be hard work but it has to be manly. For instance building a bridges or fencing land.
In Kalenjin men have their own menial or manual labour - mostly it fencing or repairing fences the land - fixing farm structures - felling trees - but never splitting firewood - building farm structures. The work has to be manly and masculine. Anything that involve dirt or kneeling or bending was almost a no. Anything that involve carrying a load on their head is a absolutely no..it considered femine..they may try to slant it on the shoulder.
Typical a kalenjin will do slashing or trimming hedges and such - but anything involving a jembe or hoe - they deem as go under like rats.
As for women - Kispigis, Keiyo and Marakwet have no problem with menial labour - never try Nandi or Tugen on manual labour - Tugen especially pride themselves as women who never do menial labour (Tugen mokipendi kandaras) - you have to hire a farm hand for her. They are like muslim women...the only thing they will do is to milk cows and maybe pick vegetables. Dont marry them unless youre ready for a lazy women like those coastarians who just cook.
Cultural flaw. Society needs mechanics, metal smiths, leather workers, wood workers, basket weavers, roof thatchers, rope makers, stone masons. Their services are vital. If you turn nose at crafts and handwork you are impoverished mentally.
