AVIATION
Hezekiah Maloba Openda (1927 - 2005), the first black principal of the East African School of Aviation. He was from Musanda, Wanga and is entombed in a mausoleum at Ekero, Mumias where he had settled.
MUSIC
As far as composing lyrics is concerned, the first Luyia to do so was a man known as Akukha from Wanga in early 1940s. Other early music legends from Luhyaland include Joshua Omwami and Bulimo both from Kisa. But it was a litungu player, Atieri who was the first Luhya to have a record cut in mid 1940s.
Atieri from Ebbayi in Bunyore lives in relative obscurity. The first music artist to receive presidential commendation is David Amunga (Order of the Grand Warrior in 2004). Amunga, of the America to Africa fame was also the first musician to qualify for royalties in East Africa.
FOOTBALL
McDonald Mariga is the first peson from Eastern Africa to play top flight soccer in Europe. He plays for Inter Milan and has featured in the prestigious Uefa championships, the ultimate dream of every footballer in club soccer. He is the son of former Abaluhya FC player, Noah Wanyama.
JOURNALISM
Did you know that WWW Awori was the first known Luyia journalist? Awori edited the Indian-owned Swahili weekly Habari in I945 then moved on to edit Sauti ya Mwafrika before establishing his own paper in 1948 known as Radio Posta which began as a Swahili weekly and developed into a daily. In 1945 Awori also began a Luyia newspaper, Omuluhya, which lasted until 1947. The Maragoli Society started Mulina was Vosi in 1949.
In 1950 Avaluhya Times was established and Omwemeli Wabaluhya in 1952. The second known Luyia journalist was Joseph Daniel Otiende who jointly edited the weekly African Leader, established in 1946 and written in Swahili and English with James Gichuru. Both individuals used the media as a mouthpiece for political ends. Otiende became the first minister for education in the Kenyatta government while Awori was the first Luyia to sit in the Legislative Assembly before independence in 1963.
Hilary Boniface Ng'weno from Samia in Busia was the first African editor in chief of the Daily Nation. He was appointed in 1964 by the Aga Khan after graduating from Harvard with a degree in nuclear physics. He resigned in 1965 over a matter of principle and founded Joe Magazine. In 1975, he founded the Weekly Review which dominated the weekly news scene for over 15 years during which time he had diversified his media empire to include Financial Review, Industrial Review and video production under his umbrella media firm, Stellagraphics.
ACADEMICS
Dr Mathias Wanyama Oggema was first Kenyan to get a PhD in Genetics (Cytogenetics from University of Manitoba, Canada, 1971), Wheat Breeding. First African Director of a research instiutute of Kenya and youngest (at age 32, PhD at 30 years) – now KARI Njoro.
First Kenyan to carry out post-doctorate studies in USSR – in "the use of Radiation in genetic modification wheat genes for leaf rust immunity (that is GMO, but over 30 years ago!). Pioneer in this field. Awardee of numerous awards (UN-FA)) including work in Ethiopia that developed a wheat variety capable of maturiry in less than 2.5months to counter the effects of the 1984 drought. He is Omusamia of the Abatabona clan.
SCHOOLS
CHAVAKALI BOYS HIGH SCHOOL was the first Harambee day secondary school in Kenya. It started in 1960 with the help of Quakers.
PARLIAMENT
WWW Awori was the first Luyia to enter the Legislative Council (current parliament). The Year was 1952. Kenneth Otiato Marende from Ebusikhale, Bunyore is the first Luyia Speaker of Parliament. He served as speaker between 2008-2013. Prior to that he was Emuhaya MP (2007-2013). John Baraza Khaoya from Bungoma was the first African Sergeant at Arms of the Legislative Council (Now Parliament)
EDUCATION
Mr Joseph Daniel "JD" Otiende from Maragoli was the 1st Minister of Education in Independent Kenya. The Year was 1963. Christopher S Khaemba (principal Alliance Boys) is the 1st Dean of African Leadership Academy (Johannesburg). He took over in Sept. 2008 - 2013.
Mr Nicholas Pius Wabuyabo was the first African Headmaster of St. Peter's Mumias Boys Primary School. He is now deceased. Mr William Melchizedek Okech was the 1st African Headmaster of Maseno High School. He was from Bunyore.
Florida Amakobe Karani is the Chancellor of Maseno University and a Kenyan woman educationist of firsts. Prof Karani was the first woman chancellor, the first woman university administrator as deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nairobi.
Mrs Elizabeth Masiga (deceased) from Ebusiekwe in Bunyore, was the first woman to serve as chief inspector of schools, director of education, and permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education.
COLONIAL
Elijah Masinde of Dini ya Msambwa was the first Luyia to resist colonial rule
MEDICINE
Dr Vincent Mumia Osundwa from the Abashitsetse clan in Wanga is the first Kenyan to be admitted as a fellow of the venerated Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Dr Elon Willis Wameyo from Abashitsetse clan in Wanga, was the first Gynaecologist of African Descent in Kenya after qualifying in 1969. He was also the first known medical doctor among his Abawanga tribesmen. He suffered polio as a child which inspired him to study medicine. He later joined politics and died in 2003.
Dr. Alan Lubanga Kisia was the first Kenyan anaesthetist
Prof Hillary Ojiambo from Samia was the 1st cardiologist in sub-Saharan Africa. He is now deceased. His widow, Dr Julia Ojiambo, is the first Kenyan woman to be appointed to the executive in 1974 as an assistant minister.
Prof Nelson Awori from Samia pioneered renal transplant in Kenya. Now deceased. Dr Majale from Samia was the 1st Orthopaedic surgeon in Kenya. Now deceased
Prof. Gabriel Anabwani from Bunyore (Kilingili), is the first Director, Baylor College of Medicine in Gaberone, Botswana. Arthur Okwemba from Bunyore was the first African medical doctor in Kenya. "I remember him as the most intelligent man on earth from his Makerere days at Mulago teaching hospital," recalled his brother, William Okwemba. Born in 1917, Dr Okwemba died in 1947 aged only 30.
NURSING
Rose Ayuya Oloo born in Khwisero, Kisa, was the first African Nurse. She trained in Kakamega and is the mother of Raila Odinga's wife, Ida. She is also the first African to open a bank account then known as Posta.
INTERNET
Joseph Mukuna Ekhuya Simekha from Bunyore is the founding president of Unarete, the Africa chapter of the international organisation devoted to bridging the digital divide.
Ayisi Boniface Makatiani is co-founder of Africa Online, the largest ISP in Africa outside of South Africa along with Amolo Ng'weno. He has been voted top CEO in EA several times. He currently owns Fanisi Capital. He is a graduate of the prestigious MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in Boston, USA
MARITIME
Juvenal Joseph Muka Shiundu from Mumias is the first naval architect in Sub Saharan Africa.
MATHEMATICS
James Aryada: First East African to get a First Class Degree in Mathematics at Oxford. He died in 1984 and was a Saamia of Uganda.
Prof Morris Sika Alala from Butsotso was the first ethnic professor of mathematics in Kenya. Now deceased.
NUTRITION
Prof Ruth Oniang'o is the first professor of nutrition in Kenya and 1st woman professor of nutrition in sub Saharan Africa.
WOMEN
Justice (rtd) Effie Owuor was the first woman high court and court fo appeal judge. She was formerly known as Effie Magisu and was born in Idakho
Dr Julia Ojiambo from Funyula, Busia is the 1st Luyia female MP after independence, 1st woman assistant minister in Kenya; the 1st female lecturer at University of Nairobi. Read her amazing story. See also her profile
Mrs Priscilla Agufwana Ingasiani Abwao from Maragoli is the 1st Luyia female to sit in parliament before independence; then known as Legco. She died on November 17 2009.
Prof Judi Wangalwa Wakhungu, executive director of the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in Nairobi was first woman geologist in the Ministry of Energy and Regional Development, where her duties entailed exploring for geothermal energy in Kenya's Rift Valley.
Prof. Wakhungu was also the first female petroleum geologist in the National Oil Corporation of Kenya. She was also the first female faculty member in the Department of Geology at the University of Nairobi.
Dr. Truphosa Otindo from Ebusiekwe in Bunyore,was the first female director of Veterinary Services in Kenya
CHURCH
Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga (1923-2003) was the first and so far only Kenyan to be made a Cardinal by the Pope.
CHURCH: Festo Olang' from Bunyore was the first African Archbishop of the Anglican Church. He was elected in 1970 and retired in 1980. He was succeeded by the Rev Dr Manasses Kuria.
LAW
Sibi Okumu from Busia was the first African Magistrate. He was appointed in 1965
BANKING
Dr Mary Okelo from the famous Awori stalk, was the first woman bank manager in Kenya. She now owns Makini schools in Nairobi
ACTUARIAL SCIENCE
James Olubayi, Chairman of Alexander Forbes Kenya, the financial and risk services company of South Africa, was the first Luhya to qualify as an actuary.
CIVICS
Nathan Adembesa from Museywa in Tiriki was the first African Town Clerk of Mombasa. He was originally from Maragoli.
BOXING
Robert Napunyi Wangila from Samia is the first African to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. He won the welterweight title in Seoul, South Korea in 1988 and proceeded to a professional boxing career in the US where he unfortunately died in 1994.
UNITED NATIONS
Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, the former MP for Kimilili and minister for trade and commerce, is the first Luyia individual (and Kenyan) to head a UN organisation. Dr Kituyi was appointed the 7th secretary general of the Geneva-based United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Sept 2013
. Copied from somewhere🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Govedi Muzami: Nice one Jane.....our dad kept on drumming on us that Musaniaga produced the first Professor in Maragoli....I have never heard this being mentioned elsewhere.....🤔
Govedi Muzami: .....but of course I know Saniagas are naturally endowed to consistently aim at what they want through the Grace of God. Is it just a brag thing? Just because he was the first Saniaga to get it. We are known for bragging but we are also go getters😜
Lung'afa: The bragging is good. But. Just but.
-Alama ya dukuduku
Baba Ndanyi: @Lung'afa
If you can't shout on the rooftops about what you are doing or going through, who will? Call it bragging, or even self esteem, whatever you call, let it come out in the open provided it's the truth; like the Vihiga bickers under the leadership of Patrick Lung'afwa, that's an excellent or let me call it a brilliant idea, I am a great fan of these youngsters, I will encourage them with these words 'A great venture starts small', keep it up guys, we are proud of you.
-: Not bragging appreciation, also inspires other.Why is it that when you are dead all sorts of praises are heaped on you but when alive is called brag.we need to be motivated while alive so that when you leave the earth there is rich legacy left behind for next generation to emulate.
Erick Author: Hapo sasa. As the lishamugoma that jumped down from the iroko tree and landed safely on all fours said, even if no-one else sings your praises.. Sing them yourself coz you HAVE achieved something.
Lung'afa: 😅😅. But in our scenario the mashamogomo are not daring to jump. So they may not thank themselves. 🎭🎭🎭
Jeska sidika Wambani: Do we have young scientists in this group who could go for the above post on Nuclear research. Fanuel with Biochem should take the lead. I can send you to someone at NACOSTI. Please don't waste time with amashamogomo discussion. Keep it for the evening when key 🔑 things have been discussed. Just keep in mind that when you start a business centre you have to get KRA PIN.
Jane Bwonya: I hasten to add that whoever compiled it was interested in Avakisa. The few Avalogooli mentioned is incidental. Maybe Avalogooli should compile their comprehensive lists. For instance, I have heard a Mulogooli doctor is among the first laparascopy surgeons in Kenya but not mentioned here. I stand to be corrected.
Neccy Flossy: 👆🏾I concur, For example. Prof Kikaya, a Mulogooli, was the 1st male in Kenya to head Kenya UN Habitat Nairobi as Ambassador to UN Habitat under UN headed by another female Ms Tibaijuka in 1999 after the first female representatives of UN Habitat - Former Margaret Kenyatta and the then the Late Mrs Mboya. Prof Kikaya was to first Kenyan person ever to be called His Excellency during the reign of former presidents apart from President Moi and/or President Kibaki because of his job and position on the UN platform. It was unheard in them days to refer to anybody as His Excellency except only and only the Presidents of the Republic of Kenya. It was assumed there being no other to be referred to like that only one President, and that was Moi. You risked your life and his if you were heard calling him by His Excellency title but that was is title - His Excellency Dr David Kikaya! The Constitution 2010 changed everything and now the title is available to all County Governors. We have come from far... and Ivindu Vichenjanga!!
Prof Kikaya: Did you know that the first Prof. of Maths at UON was a Luhya called Prof Alela. And a Maragoli from Kegoye but migrants to South Nyanza at Bware Prof. Sande was the First Kenyan Neurosurgeon🎓
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