The story of the Abanyala ba Kakamega is one of leadership, tradition, and resilience. It is a tale that spans generations, marked by the rise and fall of leaders, the migration of clans, and the enduring spirit of a people determined to preserve their identity. At the heart of this story is the intricate leadership structure of the Abanyala, a hybrid of hereditary succession and selective appointment, and the life of one of their most infamous leaders, Hamisi Okwako Tabasi Ndombi wa Namusia, whose legacy remains etched in the annals of their history.
The Abanyala ba Kakamega had a unique and all-inclusive leadership structure that began at the family level and extended to the subtribe. At the core of this system was the Omwami, the leader whose authority was both inherited and earned. To be recognized as a leader, a man had to be married, and his first wife, known as Omukhaye wa Olukosi, held a position of honor and pride. She was not just a spouse but a partner in leadership, involved in all governance-related activities. Any subsequent wives, referred to as Abakhaye Abawootia, played supporting roles, but the first lady remained the central figure in the leader’s household.
The selection of the first lady was a matter of great importance. She could not be a twin (ekhwana), divorced (omuwolole), inherited (Namulekhwa), or a product of incest (owa oluswa). Additionally, she could not be the firstborn daughter of another leader’s family (namukasa). These restrictions ensured that the first lady embodied purity, honor, and the values of the community.
Upon the death of a leader, the first lady assumed a critical role as the custodian of royal items, including the Pearl (Akhendo) and the spear of rule (swakiri). She held these symbols of authority until the heir, the Omwami designate, was installed. During this interim period, she was known as Omukhaye Namukasa, a title that underscored her importance in maintaining continuity and stability.
The year was 1877, and under the wide, watchful sky of what would become Western Kenya, Okwako wa Tabasi was born, a solitary sprout in the lineage of Tabasi wa Maero, Maero wa Masilibayi Omuilifuma. He was an only son, a single thread in a tapestry of ancestors, his life destined to be both remarkable and turbulent. His sister, Sikulu, was his sole sibling, and his mother, Namusia Osingo Tela, Omukhana Wa Urandu of the Abasia clan, instilled in him the strength of her lineage.
At the age of 26, in 1904, Okwako underwent the traditional circumcision, a rite of passage that marked his transition to manhood. A decade later, however, the winds of fate shifted, bringing with them a storm of communal animosity. Okwako, the lone man—Omutelwa—became the target of envious eyes, his very existence seen as a threat. Accusations, fueled by family disputes, swirled around him, culminating in a sinister plot to eliminate him. To save her nephew, his aunt spirited him away to Emayoni, a haven beyond the burgeoning settlement of Mumias.
It was in Emayoni that Okwako found solace and began to build his own legacy. He took Kilande as his first wife, initiating a marital journey that would see him wed a staggering thirty-two women, fathering sixty-six children. This prolific expansion of his family was a testament to his resilience and a defiant act against the forces that sought to extinguish him.
Following his circumcision, Okwako joined the formidable Wanga army, serving as an elite guard to Nabongo called Olukayaba. This period exposed him to the intricate dance of political power, the subtle art of diplomacy, and the lucrative trade with the Arab merchants who frequented the region. He absorbed these lessons, transforming himself from a target of community ire to a man of influence.
In 1914, after the departure of Manyuru, whose reign ended after he killed the wife of one of the elders in council during a sitting and was arrested and taken to Kisumu by the colonial government, Okwako wa Tabasi ascended to the chieftaincy. He earned the moniker “Ndombi,” a name derived from “Endombera,” meaning a potato shoot, symbolizing his resilience and ability to sprout anew even in harsh conditions. His interactions with Arab traders deepened, leading to his conversion to Islam in the 1930s, and he adopted the name Hamisi.
Hamisi Okwako Tabasi Ndombi wa Namusia became a figure of both admiration and fear. He opened roads, established schools, and introduced clothing, supplied primarily by his Arab trade partners, into the region. But his rule was also marked by cruelty and stubbornness. He exercised his power with a dictatorial hand. This duality defined his legacy.
The harshness of his reign triggered a significant migration of Abanyala people to Bukusu land, where they were welcomed and assimilated. Clans such as the Bayemba, Baengele, and Batecho, originally Abanyala, found new homes and identities among the Bukusu. The Bakhone, originally from Budalangi and Banyala by origin, also migrated, led by Ekobi. These migrations, whether from Budalangi directly or through Tororo, where interactions with the Bukusu led to further assimilation, underscored the impact of Ndombi’s rule.
The Abanyala and Bukusu, despite these migrations, maintained a sense of kinship, viewing each other as brothers. Those Abanyala in Kakamega, known as the Abanyala ba Ndombi, traced their lineage back to Munyala, their progenitor.
The end of Hamisi Okwako Tabasi Ndombi wa Namusia’s reign was as dramatic as his life. In 1939, as dusk fell, he ventured out of his Enjeko to investigate a dog’s persistent barking. He encountered a wild dog, a Sisuche, whose bite proved fatal. Upon the advice of his senior advisor, Tundo, he anointed his first son, Andrea, as his successor. In the early 1940s, Hamisi Okwako Tabasi Ndombi wa Namusia passed away, leaving behind a complex and contradictory legacy.
He left behind three homes – including one in Tulimba in present-day Bumula Sub County of Bungoma County, a network of roads, schools, and a community forever altered by his actions. He was both a builder and a destroyer, a leader who fostered progress while sowing seeds of discontent. His name, Ndombi wa Namusia, echoed through the generations, a reminder of a man who, like the potato shoot, sprouted from adversity, but whose growth was marked by both light and shadow.
Ndombi wa Namusia was a complex and controversial figure. Known for his authoritarian rule, he was both revered and feared. His cruelty and stubbornness earned him a reputation as a dictator, and his tendency to seize other men’s wives caused widespread discontent. Many Abanyala, unable to endure his harsh rule, migrated to Bukusu land, where they were welcomed and eventually assimilated.
Despite his flaws, Ndombi made significant contributions to the community. He opened road networks, established schools, and introduced clothing to the area, thanks to his connections with Arab traders. His reign, though marked by conflict, was also a period of progress and modernization.
However, his rule came to an abrupt end in 1939. One evening, as he investigated the barking of a wild dog known as Sisuche, he was bitten and fatally wounded. On his deathbed, he named his first son, Andrea, as his successor. Hamisi Okwako Tabasi Ndombi wa Namusia passed away in early 1940, leaving behind a mixed legacy.
The Abanyala’s history is deeply intertwined with migration and assimilation. Under the leadership of Munyala Mareba, the Abanyala began their journey, settling in various regions and forming alliances with other communities. Munyala, a giant of a man with large eyes, was a great seer and warrior who led his people through difficult times. His death in battle marked a turning point, as the Abanyala vowed never to allow their leader to go to war again.
Subsequent leaders, such as Buongo wa Namuyemba and Munyala wa Namakangala, guided the community through periods of unity and division. The Abanyala eventually settled in Navakholo, a land named in honor of Mukhamba’s mother, Nabakholo. It was here that they established their identity as Abanyala ba Mukhamba.
The migration of the Abanyala was not without conflict. They faced attacks from the Tesos and other neighboring communities, leading to further displacement. Despite these challenges, the Abanyala persevered, adapting to their new environments and forming alliances with the Bukusu and other groups.
The story of the Abanyala ba Kakamega is one of resilience and adaptation. Their leadership structure, rooted in tradition, has evolved over time, blending hereditary succession with selective appointment. Leaders like Hamisi Okwako Tabasi Ndombi wa Namusia, though controversial, played a crucial role in shaping the community’s identity.
Today, the Abanyala continue to honor their traditions, preserving the legacy of their ancestors. Their history, marked by migration, conflict, and cultural evolution, serves as a testament to their enduring spirit and commitment to unity.
In the words of the elders, “A leader never lies.” This simple yet profound phrase encapsulates the essence of Abanyala leadership—a commitment to truth, unity, and the enduring spirit of a people who have weathered the storms of history to emerge stronger and more united than ever.
