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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...

The Yalwala


Ogirwa the old is said to have come from Mbale - Idavaga. Something happened. Whenever his children wished to go back and reclaim his land, he grew angry. And warned. 

He gave birth to one funny and cheeky ancestor nicknamed Riguruguru. His name was Zakariah Lung'aho. He could tune to some song 'Riguruguru zanangwa ngani rivozanga!' whenever drunk with ibusa. 

A people of Maraha clan lived then at Chavakali from where there is a cereal board compound downwards. But they were also silent under the leadership of Ogora, a leader from the Masingira clan that tended to have a low look on other clans around. Our charismatic Riguruguru not only gained his favour but came to be established when he married a Masingira girl. Riguruguru only had a sister that was married at Maravi. No brothers. The Saniaga families in Lunyerere were distant and only treated as close brothers. His land now, gotten from the Maraha, extended down from the Cereal Board to the road that heads to Bukulunya. There where a Luo later introduced a Printing press and won himself two beautiful Masingira girls. 

Riguruguru was a dealer in skins and hides. He was chief in the cattle market at Stendkisa and Ogora liked him so - for favours. Even the cereal board place for sometime had the name of Visero. 

Days went by and Adagi ruled the area. Riguruguru was then getting smaller and smaller. He was a world war fighter. He had a bone disease. One day while drunk, it happened. 

Fellow drunkers snarled this, 'we gave you a wife, we gave you land. What are you?' It made him marry a second wife, Migango. 

Adagi was one time in such hatred dragging him to court in unclear reason of the time. As savage as you can assume. A shouting match ensued. And this is what Riguruguru told Adagi: 'My family will be as stars in the sky, great men and great leaders.'

NB
Did you know that some clans/families due to conflicts or such taboos did not share water springs? Maraha and Maroka are an example. It happened even at the coming of Churches that if they were in a similar place different churches of the same faith were to be built. 

With Thanks

-: The Saniaga of Chavakali are cousins to thise of Lunyerere. Exact association eludes me to date but my father pointed me there when I needed wazee to escort me to things like Dowry negotiation.... A patriach in the family died recently, Gadonya was his name. Wish you had chance to interview him. His son Kigarave is a great father figure to me uptodate. Lunyerere and chavakali Saniagas are cousins

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