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Heavy responsibilities for elder aunt among the Logooli

With Seenge Fonesi. She is the elder grand daughter of Isagi and elder daughter of Amugasya. She is often present in functions involving the family of Amugasya. Pic taken on 18/4/2024. The elder sister soon becomes the elder aunt. It is this “seenge munene” (elder aunt) tag that she is tied to many cultural responsibilities – back home. To her marital family she may appear as any other woman, but she is not so in the eyes of her people. Marriage does not steal her away as it would happen with other daughters of the old man. To her, as days go and the old man and woman of the estate are dependents, she becomes increasingly present.  Her brothers also need her for almost all traditional markings. They are marrying, she needs to welcome the new wife. They are giving birth, she needs to come to midwife or “bless” the new born. They are paying dowry she needs to lead the women delegate. There is a conflict she needs to come for a hearing.  And many others. Traditions does not expect her to
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The Kasievaji

With Keremendi Kasievaji at his home in changodore village

I am Keremendi Kihima the son of Yohana Kasievaji. Kasievaji the son of Kihima. Kihima wa Kasievaji. Kasievaji wa Anguyu. Anguyu uyu nu mwana wa Darigu. Darigu of Akuva. So strongly states the Genealogy of Clement Kihima, 85 years old. From his grandson, clean 9 generational  documentation of ancestry. 270 years ago if we scientifically base a generation 30 years apart. A good trial though we need to know more, many many years ago.

His Identification Card however reads seven years younger because there was need to delay acquisition of Kipande. Take it early and you will join the 'workforce' early. On the other side, those who were already in employment saw it an opportunity to latten retirement. Breachment to not having an ID, same as not having it with you when you secured it was a month in prison.  Eseng'enge!

Down up, Clement was blessed with ten children. Their mother Margaret Vuguza, muSweta. The names Clement gave his children were of Saniaga in the Bugina/Chatamilu area. He had few nearest  kins for that. Rivore, Chagwaya, Kirivwa, Mongoi and Ruvandwa were all Saniaga names from around that he named some of his children.

When Clement was born, October 1934, his father had already been employed by a White farmer in Eldoret as a cook. His mother Paulina Kiruri came from Idakho. He would then spend the better part of his childhood in a village near Eregi, ivwifwa. He attended a Katurichi (Catholic) missionary class. He was circumcised there, 1946, Nzerorere ageset. There would be two sibling girls who followed him, a boy who died young and was buried in Eldoret (Endereti) and his brother, Christopher Igamahero.

Christopher Igamahero boarders Clement Kihima. Not that they inherited the land from Yohana Kasievaji. No. When Clement was grown, he went to Eldoret and worked as a pump attendant in a petrol station, Hius* Limited. He managed to save some monies that when a call came saying one Saniaga called Kedogo was selling land, he, still a bachelor, gave his father Ksh. 300/- to buy him the land. It should be noted that by that time his father, Yohana Kasievaji was a nomad, not of a clear settlement area. Nagendi yingiraa vuza wa vandu ivucha naruma.

It is evidenced by his uncle, Yohana Kasievaji's brother, Peter Kedogo who married muMageza near Busali and settled wanga mukari. The muMageza woman was called Kinamugori and two of their children Ziamazi and Zindori.

His grandfather, Kihima, was born at Shimalavandu, eVozozo. There at Shigodi*. For some reasons, Kasievaji, the father of Kihima, left eVozozo with them, leaving their land there. Kasievaji had a brother called Yida. The two's father Anguyu. Yida is the father to Obidi and Mugo. Both found at Chatamilu.

We can then speculate that prior to Shivachi's wall, there had already crossed vaSaniaga to eVozozo and Kabras. Handidi being a good example. And there were 'come backs'. Where one could socially arrive, slow to changing times of land ownership and settling. These forefathers would be caught in the fast changing times where a man needed land and a 'permanent' home.

Kasievaji's wife was called Kamonya. Kihima made in-laws with the Mavaru, the father of Kedogo (namesake of the Saniaga who had no child but owned the land where Clement bought). Kedogo was Musiara wa Yohana Kasievaji.

Goes the stories... Up up up.

-/With Thanks
Saniaga.org
Saniaga.blogspot.com

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