I come from a small hamlet in Nyamira County. My home is at the frontier area separating Nyamira and Kisii Counties, which make up the Abagusii genus. You can't imagine how I usually think that #IAmProudToBeAKisii .
Actually, Nyamira county is the wellspring of a large flow of liquid called River Kuja/Gucha which locals refer to as Egucha. I personally have never been to this beautiful scene called Kiabonyoru where hearsays indicate that the river originates here. To me this is a claim of questionable accuracy that I am yet to ascertain. I have been to places like Gachuba, Kegati, Nyambunde, Ogembo... and the mighty Egucha passes here. I came to discover that some myths were developed years back to try in expounding some unusual behaviours associated with this river. This traditional narratives try to embody and cover reasons behind something common with the mighty river.
A good byspel is existence of nefarious powers in the waters of this river. At some point near Gachuba, is a swift and voluminous descent or fall, called 'ekeera' by the locals. Since naming was attributed to a great ancestor in the area, one man by the name Nyakora was given the mandate to own it, hence the name Ekeera Kia'Nyakora. In this deep fall, river Kuja looses its greatness of calm and status of slow flowing to fall down on broad rocks, hitting the surface with high pressure. I think my explanation is thrift since I am not good in science. The effects if hitting the rocks with pressure is the rise of a moderate degree of wetness in form of moisture, actually seen to be white. The only time I had seen such before was on a very cold day and my exhaled carbon IV oxide looked white and actually somebody could think I was smoking. That's how even the locals say that the fall emits smoke. Water can turn off fire and if your pinna traps waves saying that smoke is coming from a river, then you could believe of evil powers.
The locals used the myths as their own science to explain why things happened. Another frugal explanation was that of the water depth decreasing and increasing. Some say when the river breaks its banks they should offer a sacrifice or else the river will rob them a person. Application of real science shows that dry seasons are known to give less quantities downstream.
Nyamira county also houses tea plantations. Here, 96% of the locals have planted tea on their land. The tea is sold to the country's main tea body, KTDA, through local factories like Nyankoba and Tombe. Although the locals have sub partitioned their pieces of land due to population increase, many have inherited tea farming from their parents and have settled on earning a living through it.
As part of the larger Gusii community, Nyamira inhabitants have embraced and continued the culture of planting bananas. In fact, every homestead has planted bananas. Some sell their bananas to major markets like Kemera, Omogonchoro, Kebirigo, Nyamira and even Keumbu which is in Kisii County but near the border. Some farmers have grown bananas in large scale in places like Gachuba and its outskirts.
Citizens in Nyamira also practise coffee farming though in low quantities. Girango Farmers Society is a coffee processing plant situated in Gachuba since 1957 but has been loosing farmers due to low yields experienced. Coffee is no longer planted in square or rectangular plots, a number of trees has been uprooted while a few stand by the fences and stand the risk of being uprooted.
Cattle keeping is not a common practice in Nyamira, but at least every homestead has either a cow or a goat. Some have gone for modern cows which give high yields of milk and these sell their milk to the others on daily basis hence balancing the living equation. Some people here, a number who are considered illiterate, keep cows as a store of wealth. When a problem or need arises, a cow is sold to cover it and plans for replacing it are made. This herds act hence act as banks for the wealth they hold. This is not new to the locals as days before colonialism, African tycoons were ranked according to the largeness of their herds.
Nyamira can be mistaken for a forest, if one flies over it. People here plant trees by roadsides, river banks and even by the fences. These trees are the source if firewood and income. They are also used for construction and fencing. Like cattle, trees can be used to store wealth since they grow on a daily basis, hence increasing their value, and unlike cattle they are not easily prone to diseases and other risks like theft.
The topography in Nyamira County creates a beautiful scenery that is worth spending time to look at. There are a number of hills like Kerongeta, Nyariacho, Mokwerero, Esaba, Miriri, Tombs and many others. Caved rocks are heaped here and thatching grass which makes them look like natural heads. Numerous species of trees exist here making them ever natural, inheriting the richness from God. Streams flow down to meet the mighty River Kuja. Actually the locals here experience clean and sweet water which comes directly from the sources.
The modern Nyamira County has a number of education facilities like schools, polythecnics and university campuses. Almost every village has a primary school and others have even two. There are secondary schools run by the government and others by mission societies. A number of them attract students from the county and beyond. A good example is Nyambaria Boys High School, which was elevated to the status of a national school due to impressive performance in the national exam. Polytechnics have been established in the county to foster technical skills among the youth. Kiang'ende youth polytechnic is situated in Gachuba Location and offers technical training to the locals and those interested. It offers boarding facilities to those who come from far. In Nyamira town, a number of university campuses like Kisii University have been set there. This makes Nyamira a busy town always.
The locals have a rich cultural inheritance. Although there is no formal cultural event is organised to unite citizens, their culture is displayed in public functions where they dance and sing traditional songs like 'Ribina' to welcome ad thank those who visit them. Some have also extended traditional culture to the church by including traditional jigs, tunes and dances in their church functions to add flavour. The art of pottery and basketry is active still through the making of bricks and baskets to carry tea to buying centres. Some also make ropes both for use and selling.
Nyamira citizens are organised in administrative units headed by administrators. The chief administrator is the Governor whose office is political and is elected by the citizens through secret ballot. The county holds names of great politicians like the late George MOSETI Anyona, who was known to be a stiff opposition leader during the Moi regime. Due to partitioning of the county to easily manageable units, a number of politicians have emerged to vie for various political posts and become administrators.
Although Some people think Nyamira is poor due to lack of good roads and other facilities, Nyamira can be one of the richest county in Kenya and that is why. I am proud to be one of its citizens.
Actually, Nyamira county is the wellspring of a large flow of liquid called River Kuja/Gucha which locals refer to as Egucha. I personally have never been to this beautiful scene called Kiabonyoru where hearsays indicate that the river originates here. To me this is a claim of questionable accuracy that I am yet to ascertain. I have been to places like Gachuba, Kegati, Nyambunde, Ogembo... and the mighty Egucha passes here. I came to discover that some myths were developed years back to try in expounding some unusual behaviours associated with this river. This traditional narratives try to embody and cover reasons behind something common with the mighty river.
A good byspel is existence of nefarious powers in the waters of this river. At some point near Gachuba, is a swift and voluminous descent or fall, called 'ekeera' by the locals. Since naming was attributed to a great ancestor in the area, one man by the name Nyakora was given the mandate to own it, hence the name Ekeera Kia'Nyakora. In this deep fall, river Kuja looses its greatness of calm and status of slow flowing to fall down on broad rocks, hitting the surface with high pressure. I think my explanation is thrift since I am not good in science. The effects if hitting the rocks with pressure is the rise of a moderate degree of wetness in form of moisture, actually seen to be white. The only time I had seen such before was on a very cold day and my exhaled carbon IV oxide looked white and actually somebody could think I was smoking. That's how even the locals say that the fall emits smoke. Water can turn off fire and if your pinna traps waves saying that smoke is coming from a river, then you could believe of evil powers.
The locals used the myths as their own science to explain why things happened. Another frugal explanation was that of the water depth decreasing and increasing. Some say when the river breaks its banks they should offer a sacrifice or else the river will rob them a person. Application of real science shows that dry seasons are known to give less quantities downstream.
Nyamira county also houses tea plantations. Here, 96% of the locals have planted tea on their land. The tea is sold to the country's main tea body, KTDA, through local factories like Nyankoba and Tombe. Although the locals have sub partitioned their pieces of land due to population increase, many have inherited tea farming from their parents and have settled on earning a living through it.
As part of the larger Gusii community, Nyamira inhabitants have embraced and continued the culture of planting bananas. In fact, every homestead has planted bananas. Some sell their bananas to major markets like Kemera, Omogonchoro, Kebirigo, Nyamira and even Keumbu which is in Kisii County but near the border. Some farmers have grown bananas in large scale in places like Gachuba and its outskirts.
Citizens in Nyamira also practise coffee farming though in low quantities. Girango Farmers Society is a coffee processing plant situated in Gachuba since 1957 but has been loosing farmers due to low yields experienced. Coffee is no longer planted in square or rectangular plots, a number of trees has been uprooted while a few stand by the fences and stand the risk of being uprooted.
Cattle keeping is not a common practice in Nyamira, but at least every homestead has either a cow or a goat. Some have gone for modern cows which give high yields of milk and these sell their milk to the others on daily basis hence balancing the living equation. Some people here, a number who are considered illiterate, keep cows as a store of wealth. When a problem or need arises, a cow is sold to cover it and plans for replacing it are made. This herds act hence act as banks for the wealth they hold. This is not new to the locals as days before colonialism, African tycoons were ranked according to the largeness of their herds.
Nyamira can be mistaken for a forest, if one flies over it. People here plant trees by roadsides, river banks and even by the fences. These trees are the source if firewood and income. They are also used for construction and fencing. Like cattle, trees can be used to store wealth since they grow on a daily basis, hence increasing their value, and unlike cattle they are not easily prone to diseases and other risks like theft.
The topography in Nyamira County creates a beautiful scenery that is worth spending time to look at. There are a number of hills like Kerongeta, Nyariacho, Mokwerero, Esaba, Miriri, Tombs and many others. Caved rocks are heaped here and thatching grass which makes them look like natural heads. Numerous species of trees exist here making them ever natural, inheriting the richness from God. Streams flow down to meet the mighty River Kuja. Actually the locals here experience clean and sweet water which comes directly from the sources.
The modern Nyamira County has a number of education facilities like schools, polythecnics and university campuses. Almost every village has a primary school and others have even two. There are secondary schools run by the government and others by mission societies. A number of them attract students from the county and beyond. A good example is Nyambaria Boys High School, which was elevated to the status of a national school due to impressive performance in the national exam. Polytechnics have been established in the county to foster technical skills among the youth. Kiang'ende youth polytechnic is situated in Gachuba Location and offers technical training to the locals and those interested. It offers boarding facilities to those who come from far. In Nyamira town, a number of university campuses like Kisii University have been set there. This makes Nyamira a busy town always.
The locals have a rich cultural inheritance. Although there is no formal cultural event is organised to unite citizens, their culture is displayed in public functions where they dance and sing traditional songs like 'Ribina' to welcome ad thank those who visit them. Some have also extended traditional culture to the church by including traditional jigs, tunes and dances in their church functions to add flavour. The art of pottery and basketry is active still through the making of bricks and baskets to carry tea to buying centres. Some also make ropes both for use and selling.
Nyamira citizens are organised in administrative units headed by administrators. The chief administrator is the Governor whose office is political and is elected by the citizens through secret ballot. The county holds names of great politicians like the late George MOSETI Anyona, who was known to be a stiff opposition leader during the Moi regime. Due to partitioning of the county to easily manageable units, a number of politicians have emerged to vie for various political posts and become administrators.
Although Some people think Nyamira is poor due to lack of good roads and other facilities, Nyamira can be one of the richest county in Kenya and that is why. I am proud to be one of its citizens.
Comments
Post a Comment