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The Kamnara of Sakwa are making ground to build for future generations

Greetings from the Kamnara of Sakwa! The Kamnara people of Sakwa on 27th December 2024 gathered at Village Park, Ajigo (near Bondo). Hosted by Kwaka Joseph, they hearkened to the consultative forum call, arriving in good numbers and early enough for a successful day. The gathering was chaired by Mr. Nying’ro James Onyango, a former (retired) assistant commissioner of Police. The introductions were excellent. The genealogies were mentioned in reverence, lengthy ones applauded. And courtesy of Enos Oyaya’s book, “Kamnara my people”, anyone who would need help had the documentation. Oyaya had launched the Kamnara book on 30th December 2022 at his home in Kamnara Mwalo, an event that gathered Vakamnara from far and wide. “What can we do that the generations to come will benefit from?” This was the clarion Mr. Kwaka Joseph called on all to fashion their minds to. And issues were raised in the fields of Education, health, agriculture, enterprise, politics and more that the swift dholuo would...
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A history of Mbale

The present MBALE town in Maragoli, Vihiga County (It used be a District), is locally known to its residents as "WA-MBALE". It is a name derived from an ancestor – who was the Great Great Grandfather called "AMBALE" of the Abasaniaga (Kamnara) Clan.

Ambale's parcel of land which stretched from "IDAVAGA" where he lived and died, extended beyond the present MBALE Market Place in Maragoli. History has it that Ambale was a shrewd cattle trader. Both buyers and sellers always converged at a famous spot in Ambale's land under a tree shade or some trees known as "MU-MIZAMBARAU" – 'Mzambarau' is a Swahili name of  plum tree.  The "Mzambarau spot" brought together traders from as far as Bunyore, Luanda, Idakho, Isukha, Serem (Banja), Kisa, and Kisumu for Saturday market livestock trading. Saturday is still the main market day  in Mbale.

When the Colonial Government built the Kisumu - Kakamega Road, Ambale's land was affected and divided - hiking away the market spot from his parcel of land to which he would never be compensated. The present Muslim Mosque was built and stands in the very place and a few of these trees can be seen to this day.

Ambale's sons were - Gamsha, Engome, Luvita and the youngest – Ganihitsu. Ganihitsu and wife Diana Nyagi bore Agesa (alias Harambee), Asava (alias Kilanduka) and Lusigi. They were great people. Agesa bore Inziano, father to Neccy Munagi, the contributor of this article. Understandably from Ganihitsu's daughter Resba Mengesa Lwimbu (who was 90yrs old while narrating this story), even the land extending to Muslim Primary School and the entire village, belonged to this great, great, grandfather.

Ambale was so kindly generous that he went against tradition by giving away land to his sister called Maria Ilunda who had been married at 'Evogonda'.  The circumstance to the act wasn't included by the writer.

According to Abalogoli culture, women were not allowed to inherit land and property. With increased in- laws following, that is how land was lost on the Evogonda / Idavaga side. The great great grandsons of Mbale have been forced to buy land for settling in an area that once belonged to their ancestor.

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