Nairobi South cemetery - Joel Balabanoff, died 28 March 1949 aged 76, MHDSRIP - also Rachel Balabanoff, died 22 Feb 1947 aged 74, headstone says - in loving memory of our dear mother Rachel Balabanoff who passed away 22 February 1947

Glimpses - The founder of the Eldoret-Kitale Hebrew Congregation was my grandfather, Joel Balabanoff. He was a Russian tinsmith who in 1904 had emigrated to Palestine with his wife Rachel Balabanoff, and their first 3 sons.. I think it was there that he met Joe Darevsky, and it was Darevsky who encouraged him to come to Kenya. My grandparents settled in Nairobi in 1912, where my grandfather got a job with Harrtz & bell. In 1924 he moved to Eldoret where he established his own tinsmithing business, the Uasin Gishu Tank and Metal Works. My grandfather was a very religious man and all his sons (6 in all) were Yeshiva educated. There were several other Jews living in Eldoret ……….. But there was no Jewish religious organization in Eldoret. So my grandfather went to Palestine where he had a Sefer Torah written for him which he brought back to Eldoret and set up a place of worship in his home, and it was there that services were held on all high holy days.

Macmillan 1930 - J. Balabanoff & Sons - The UG Tank and Metal Works Plumbers and Tinsmiths - Modern plumbing at Eldoret and Kitale has its only exponents in Messrs J. Balabanoff and Sons who started in 1926 their very useful business, the UG Tank and Metal Works which is playing an important role in the development of local necessities and conveniences. …….. The Eldoret business is under the personal supervision of Mr J. Balabanoff and his son Louis. The branch at Kitale which was opened in 1928 is under the management of Mr Abraham Balabanoff.

Gazette 6 Dec 1938 Uasin Gishu Voters Roll