Skip to content ↓

View entry

Back to search results

Name: ROOKEN-SMITH, Ian

Nee: son of William Alexander Rooken-Smith

Birth Date: 5.6.1930 Uruku farm, Laikipia

Death Date: 19.10. 1994 Namibia

First Date: 1930

Last Date: 1994

Profession: Farmer

Area: Thomson's Falls, Turbo, Kitale, Malindi

Married: In Ol Kalou 1952 Heather May Isobel Griffin b. 13 Nov 1933

Children: Keith (6.3.1953 Nakuru); Beryl Marjorie (Immelman then von Grafe then Webber) (23.6.1954 Nakuru-1991); Lindsay Margaret (Stonebanks then Phillips then Edgecombe) (26.1.1858 Nakuru); Alexander Stuart (3.12.1960 Kitale-8.1.1979 Mossel Bay)

Author: Heather Rooken-Smith, 'Daisy's Daughter: Our Lives for Africa'

Book Reference: Gillett, Sitrep 2, 6, RS, Hut, Stud

General Information:

EA Stud Book 1954 - Cattle - Ayrshires - I. Rooken Smith, Hoey's Bridge
Bruce Rooken-Smith Born on the farm Uruki in the Laikipia district. His father William attended to the birth in the old home. Ian built a new house not far from the spectacular 'Uruku' Falls. He matriculated at Se'bourne College, East London, South Africa. He returned to Kenya in 1947 to run 'Uruku'. In 1952, he married Heather May Isobel Griffin of OI'Kalou. Owing to severe drought conditions, Ian sold 'Uruku' to cousin Peter Smith and on his brother Harold's advice, purchased 'Westlands' farm in the Uasin Gishu District of Western Kenya. This was a difficult beginning owing to the required National Service in the Kenya Regiment. Once he was released, Harold advised him to go dairy farming for the daily delivery of fresh milk to Uganda, a new scheme. This he did and built up an award winning Ayrshire herd. Ian also extensively cultivated 1,000 acres of excellent maize crops. 'Westlands' was the last farm in the first million acre scheme to be taken over by 'The Lancaster House' Agreement. The family re-located in 1965 to Malindi (on the Kenya coast, 80 miles north of Mombasa). Ian bought three plots of land and built a new home. He bought his first deep-sea fishing boat 'Hiltonian' from Les Mousley, and was involved in the successful launch of Malindi Sport Fishing. This wonderful way of life was not financially viable - he then decided to go back to farming and first moved to Rhodesia where all efforts to obtain land were made impossible. In 1973, Portugal advertised for new farmers to grow tobacco in Angola. Ian took this opportunity and very successfully grew an abundant crop of tobacco - the sales of which coincided with the Coup de Abril 1975! The family came out of Angola as refugees, and four days later Ian was employed as Cattle Manager of the 45,000 acre ranch "Kambingana", Omitara in the Omaheke District of the Republic of Namibia. Here Ian was also in charge of the annual hunting of Kudu, Springbok and Hartebeest by privileged guests of the company, and of the hi-annual capture of 300 Hartebeest for export to South Africa. Ian remained manager of 'Kambingana' till his death on October 19th, almost twenty years later.

Back to search results