How It Happened

Let me share with you the origins of Luhya community as explained by Mzee Burudi Nabwera in his book “How it Happened” pages 8-9.
The adoption of the term Luhya was done in 1948 fronted by Canon Jeremiah Awori (father to Hon Moody Awori among others) and Mzee Nabwana of Kimilili. The two were members of the North Nyanza African District Council and clergymen. Nabwana was also a teacher in various schools in Bungoma and later become involved in KAU politics in the 1940s.
In this endevour, they were supported by Paramount Chief Agoi of Maragoli. The need to adopt one common name was premises by alot of cultural and linguistic similarities than differences that existed between them.

The team noted that there were a lot to unite them than divide them. 18 sub tribes were identified:

1. Bukusu
2. Maragoli
3. Samia
4. Tachoni
5. Kabras
6. Banyore
7. Kisa
8. Tiriki
9. Isukha
10. Marama
11. Idakho
12. Wanga
13. Khayo
14. Marachi
15. Batsotso
16. Batura
17. Banyala ba Budalangi
18. Banyala ba Navakholo.

Mzee Nabwera notes that Idakho and Isukha are similar just as Wanga, Batsotso, Marama and Kisa are. In terms of dialect it was noted that only Maragoli and Bukusu had some notable differences.

Among these groups only the Tachoni circumcised their girls. It was resolved that this backward practice be discarded and it was so dropped in 1948. Thus no Luhya community circumcise their girls.

A questionnaire was sent to all the 18 sub tribes for a name. There were many names among them Abalimi, Abamali, Abaluhya. After lengthy deliberations, ABALUHYA was adopted as the umbrella name because it meant people who share a common compound, meaning brotherhood.

After this breakthrough, other communities picked the hue and later the Kalenjins community was born same to the Mijikenda at the coast region.

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Vihiga has approximately 140,000 households
A bus costs 6-10m
That was an insult indeed.
We have the solutions, we need to clearly define the problems.

Starting point is to determine whether we have any gems or not.

Source of paper is interesting. County government.
Hopefully we can start seeing our nakedness and do something.
Our best resources might not be our land but our people.
Key is to stay focused as a group.
2022 will soon be upon us. If we do not learn from the two governors, current dealers or leaders, then God help us until 2027.

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