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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...

Kalenjin/Maasai land that we call home now?

-: Lung'afa, when you talk of Saniak, among the Kalenjin, could be relating to the Saniak Clan of the Keiyo of Kerio Valley.
The late Nicholas Biwott was from that clan.

Whilst serving in the Fluorspar Company, I did find it interesting, that there were community members in the Kerio Valley whose relatives were as far flung as Gambogi!
They took keen interest in me just because I was from Vihiga.
They told me that it was trade that got them thus far.

You are pursuing an interesting line.

-: The Kalenjin trade connection also comes up in other aspects.
The name, *"Atiamuga"*
is a corruption of the Kalenjin greeting, _"Jamige"_

The day my grandmother of the Vayonga clan was born, a Kalenjin trader came by and her mother concocted the name therefrom, and you know Valogoli and our "heavy tongues"
that give you _Musuluve_ from Mrs. Rees;
the _Jamige_ version  became, _Atiamuga_.

-: While at Keiyo valley, I found a Saniaga called Musungu Kiptanui. I found an ancestor called Musungu at Handidi, among Saniaga. 

Another, the colonial leadership in Keiyo preferred people of Saniak clan (they pronounce /saniag/) for work. Artisans, farm, messengers and confidants. 

Up Kachibora to Kapcherop in Marakwet, where Saniak look like the Borana, one white man had ropped in Gusii people and one village was of them, now Marakwet speakers. 

We corrupt many words. Igadwa is /ikatwa/ among Isukha. Jiragwa is /kilakwa/. 😊

-: From the look of it, the *Avasaniaga* have an interesting story. Just like would the Avagihayo (Luo clan) and Abasuba.

Mulogoli assimilated many clans to diversify and as a way to make peace as well as acquire more land.

Like when he took _ikivala cha Vavo_ (Chavavo) the remaining Luos that sought peace and not go back to Luoland (Chula Imbo, Chulaimbo near Maseno) had to blend in as a Avalogoli clan, _Avagihayo._

-: We are told Gaigedi, Mudungu, Gahumbwa, Sabatia, Mago, Losengeli etc are all corruption of Kalenjin words/names given by Kalenjin

Prior on, if we are to backdate life in Maragoli, Kalenjin herded their cattle around. 

- What would be the meanings to the names, what could have been the original names? 

Cause Bungoma is said to mean 'use the front door' and Kakamega 'trouble at home' among the Kalenjin.

-: Not all these names were originally Kalenjin, may be Gaigedi, Jemovo, Givudanyi, but Losengeli sounds like a corruption of Los Angeles 😁😁😁

-: In fact most names of places were originally Masaai names including Elgon, Eldoret, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, Naivasha, Nairobi, Kitale, Laikipia, Gilgil, and many others, the Kalenjin are just trying to copy

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