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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...

Izava Walk : Materere Stream

It may have been a large swamp from the start and no stream had started running so far from the evidence of the reeds after the first mini bridge. When water  is mistreated it tends to react. The trenches are adaptation against exposure to greedy roots and hiding from direct sunlight. In this way the small sized snake of a river  provides the topology appropriate for gulping other sinking  yet equally young brooks.

Materere is the name known to the river at this point having lacked a tag prior. People have seen streams run down at the farms and never bothered to name them. It's too small for a name, they say. Materere rivulet is named after a slippery rock that must have served as a crossover to either ridges long ago. Beautiful girls must have broken many water pots there.

The sight of an 'untouched' Canaan came to sight in the inherited land of Joel Indeje. There being no one by Materere rivulet to break my growing loneliness, I had to seek the home up and get a word. There I was served tea.

Joel married a Maragoli girl from vadamai clan. She must have taught her children to stay away when guests are around for none came to ask I give him my watch. Joel had left and he's the one who could have largely gave a history of the place. Indigenous trees are good for charcoal and wood. A cook enjoys when fire is consistently burning. However it could take generations for maturity of many species - msorongo, kigangania, mduguyu, rusiora. It is unlike the preferred quick maturing and economically viable key for the present needs.

Musakulu Lubuze was weeding his maize farm by the stream. Rocks kept him doing it carefully slow. Confessing that Tirikis are but emigrants from nearby communities of Maragoli, Banyore and Idakho. The earliest migrants had borrowed the strong circumcision rituals from a minority Highland Nilote Group -Terik community. The result was 'Idumi' practice where traditions and customs are secretly passed only to the initiates. Those bound to share to outsiders are threatened by extreme consequences.

And so four types of circumcision ceremonies are held - vamasero, vasomi, varogori and hospital. Vamasero are the secretive and adamant group while Vasomi considered churchish.

What disturbs man is the stomach; I want, I want! Concluded Lubuze.

Just before the 'ritele' stone a road crossed. To the left it would take you to Senende, to the right Matagaro.

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