About Kakamega Way Back When

Brief History of Kakamega County

Obvious perhaps, but apt to overlooked, is that the place we now call Kakamega County has always been the ancestral home of the Luhya nation, Kenya’s second-largest community. Granted that the esoteric Luhya are composed of several sub-groups, including the Wanga, Bukusu, Maragoli, Isukha, Idakho, and the Kabras, ethnographers and locals have a much broader delineation of their nation. A part of the Bantu speakers, who all migrated from West-Central Africa to Central and Southern Africa between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago, from Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganda over a period of thousands of years, the Luhya, sometimes referred to as Abaluhya, are a diverse and fascinating coterie of friendly and welcoming folk.

Before 1899, much of what we now call Kakamega County was known as North Kavirondo. Kakamega town is first seen as “Kakamwegas” on the Geographical Journal map of 1899. According to folklore, it was an age-old outpost where the communities met to trade and exchange ideas. 1900 would mark an inflection point in the history of both Kakamega and Kenya in general, as the colonial era began its domination. The arrival of Uganda Railway in Western Kenya spurred immense growth. In quick succession, the settlement of Kakamega was gazetted as a governmental post on July 1, 1909. The standing station was officially moved from Mumias to Kakamega, and it was gazetted as a township in October, 1920.

Being a healthful highland with temperate climate and fertile soils, Kakamega was in much demand for colonial settlement. Soy and Lumakanda areas became part of the famous “White-Highlands” areas, where inbound settlers had their estates. The North Nyanza Native Reserve, administered from Kakamega, was created to settle the locals. The eastern portion of the area, part of the Nandi Native Reserve, was administered from Kapsabet. As this was going on, several forest reserves were also included in the central and eastern portions of the area. The relationship and mingling among the settlers and locals was never openly hostile, and growth was swift. Kakamega was elevated as the district headquarters in February, 1927.

In the 1930s, Kakamega gained international attention during the Kakamega Gold Rush, following the discovery of gold deposits. European settlers and prospectors flocked to the region, which led to the growth of Kakamega township. Rosterman Mining, a colonial company that mined here in the 1930s, was among the large global names to join in the Kakamega Gold Rush. While the gold rush boosted the economy temporarily, most profits went to investors, leaving little benefit for the natives. In tandem, missionary groups, notably of the Quakers and the Catholics, established schools and churches, introducing Western education and religion.

That’s how things stood for the next two decades on the wend to self-rule and governance in Kenya. The 1950s saw a push for local involvement in government. Following racially segregated elections for other communities in 1956, in 1957, the African constituency of “North Nyanza”, covering much of Luhyaland including Kakamega, was established and won by Bukusu ex-teacher Masinde Muliro, the much-celebrated and lionized hero forefather. He became, by extension, one of only few non-African leaders in the region. In 1959, the extensive district of North Kavirondo was split administratively into two; Elgon Nyanza and North Nyanza.

Among the proponents for the long-standing peace in the region was the Wanga Kingdom. Centered in Mumias, and the only centralized monarchy in pre-colonial Kenya, the Wanga Kingdom played a significant role in trade and regional politics. Under Nabongo Mumia, the Wanga collaborated with the British, facilitating their control over western Kenya. Nabongo Mumia was appointed as a colonial chief. Despite the collaboration of the Wanga, some Luhya sub-groups resisted British rule. The broader Luhya nation supported national movements like Kenya African Union (KAU) and the Mau Mau, although the latter had less influence in the region.

Post independence in 1963, the ‘White-Highlands’ were split and sold to native farmers. The results of the partitioning of this land can still be seen to date in the so-called “settlement schemes”.  During the British Era, some of the settlements also had different names than they do now. Presently, too, Kakamega district was populated almost entirely by Luhya, who were now generally attributed as having 18 subtribes. Kakamega, formerly dubbed North Kavirondo, then North Nyanza, had clans from a whooper 11 Luhya-speaking groups; Maragoli, Tachoni, Idakho, Isukha, Wanga, Kabras, Tsotso, Banyala wa Ndombi, Tiriki, Kisa and the Marama.

The Maragoli were the most numerous and developed community economically, while the Wanga had prospered under colonial rule, having joined early British pacification raids and their Chief Mumia had ruled for more than a decade over all the Luhya. There were also smaller populations of Luo in Butere and a few Nandi in the east, where the regional boundaries and ethnic affiliations did not precisely match. Most of the district was previously a colonial African reserve, to which was added at independence part of the “white highlands”, later christened as Lugari, a settlement area with migrants from different communities, Luhya being dominant.

Soon, the area was densely populated and agriculture thrived, with subsistence agriculture the primary means of living. There was also small-scale commercial sugar cane production, which expanded dramatically in the 1970s and early 80s. The region remains today predominately agricultural, with population growth not matched with indigenous or external investment and marked outbound migration to Nairobi and elsewhere. Vihiga district came into existence in 1989, when the densely populated southern part of the district was carved off from Kakamega.

Politically, too, Kakamega District was making waves nationally. In 1975 the Kikuyu presidential contender J.M. Kariuki was murdered by state security officers. Kibisu joined Masinde Muliro in voting against the government and was hastily sacked, and soon after jailed. In 1975-1976, the state cracked down on dissent, and after Shikuku’s comment in Parliament that ‘KANU was dead’, he was detained without trial until 1978. Both were replaced in by-elections, Kibisu by Moi’s long time ace Moses Mudavadi. In 1978, Khasakhala’s post of regional KANU VP was abolished.

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Kakamega County remains a cornerstone of Kenya’s cultural and ecological diversity, with its vibrant traditions, economic activities, and natural beauty making it a critical part of the nation’s heritage. Smack in the middle of Western Kenya, enjoying a temperate climate, Kakemega is both populous and vibrant.

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30 Destinations in Kakamega County, arranged as one would visit these - north, south, east then west - with aid of in-depth narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:

Mwikhupo Falls, Sidikho Falls, Kakamega Forest Ecosystem, Kisere Forest, Malava Forest, Mawe Tatu Hills, Kakamega National Reserve, Isukuti Guest House, Udo Bandas, Isiukhu Falls, Lirhanda Cave, Busambuli Lodge, Isecheno Nature Reserve, Kambiri Hill, Mukai Stone Cave, Savona Isle Resort, Rondo Retreat Centre, Yala Nature Reserve, Nandi Escarpment, Lamanis Haven, The Golf Hotel, Kakamega Sports Club, MMUST Botanical Garden, Muliro Gardens, Rosterman Gold Mines, Shilahi Garden, Ikhongo Murwi, Ilesi Pottery Centre, Malinya Stadium, Nabongo Cultural Centre, Hamptons City

Know More About Kakamega County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments

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