Skip to main content

Featured

Posted by

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...
Post a Comment
Read more
Posted by

Izava Walk : No more butterflies

A power saw screamed ahead, ng'eee, ng'eee, ng'eeeeee! That is how we used to imitate it. A fairly big eucalyptus tree had fallen across Izava. A mudidi man supervised the work. The machine kept on failing as we talked.

A time like this, the guy said, you'd touch the dark bark of a tree only to realize caterpillars were camouflaged there. Or they'd drop on you as you sat. Many trees seasonally attracted caterpillars and their fate was cutting. There are no beautiful butterflies as when he was a child.

Not only are economical trees water thieves, they have also lead to the disappearance of natural habitat. Monkeys don't chatter on cypress branches. Eagles don't nest on Gravelia branches. You'd shallowly dig for a spring! To access where we stood, you'd need gumboots and a sweater.

A water turned turbine wheeled the grinding stone in what was called Rugina rwa mazi (water miller?). A barrier was raised to direct water inwards and an outlet tunneled ahead. Women's fight with isio at the grinding stone was uplifted. But those who thought the valley was far away did not bother the hustle.

Vasanji is where you have married from, the guy was saying, but recently it is used denote a church member. When you visited vasanji, you were to be very timid and unmoving. The family there would offer a person to 'keep you company.' In reality, the person is to show you the best bush because in-law could be somewhere relieving herself. You were not supposed to greet in law by handshake, save the abomination!

An earthquake was witnessed sometimes ago that he suggests must have altered the ecology. How? I can't tell.

Comments

Post a Comment