Bungoma's Sudi and Amutala Renewed
Sons and daughter of Mwambu and Sella have lived in peace and harmony
from time in memorial. However, in any house, there are expected divisions
though many might not be recognized. The Bukusu community too has two major divisions
though not based on clans. The division traces its roots from pre independence
where paramount chiefs were the rulers. The Northern Bukusu land was reigned by
Amutala and the south by Sudi, who was the father of the late Kenyan ambassador
to Brazil and the late cardinal Maurice Otunga Amutala’s region stretched from
Webuye to Kimilili to Tongaren to Bokoli
while Sudi’s was Bumula to Kandui to
Sirisia. These segmentation was basically administrative which latter arose
political and other social economic
differences where the Amutala’s are deemed to have most of the elite, most
educated and people who own large tracks of land as compared to the Sudis. Most
of the prominent leaders of Bungoma came from the northern Bungoma. Former
cabinet ministers like Musikari Kombo, the late Elijah Mwangale, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi
and even the one Bukusu prophet, Elijah Masinde. In the new devolved
government, we also have the governor, Ken Lusaka, women rep, Reginada Wanyonyi.
Does that mean that people from the north are way better than the people from
the south? We also find fertile soils for farming musikimu. The entire community has been known to be attracted to
the north. Often simplified as ’bauyanga kwama emwalo na bacha engaki.’However
strong the north might have seemed, the senatorial race didn’t go their way
politically as a candidate from the south carried the day not once but twice
despite a strong hand that propped a candidate from the North. That general
election saw prominent men like Musikari Kombo, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi (now the executive director of the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development (UNCTAD) out of the race. The second race in senatorial by
election attracted new candidates like the young David Makali and the hilarious
Mwalimu Wakoli Bifwoli who unfortunately were not among the Bungoma horses.
Bungoma is in your hands photo from www.westfm.co.ke
All this
are internal politics within a sub tribe and therefore posing the question; when
will the sons and daughters of Mwambu and Sella again join hands and raise one
of their own to the big seat? In my opinion, this will not happen soon as long
as our brothers, Abana ba Likhanga
(Tachoni) and basuta muka (sabot) are
not involved the kitchen affairs of the county. The two occupy a large portion
of the Amutala and Bungoma at large. Tachoni for instance played a vital role
in fighting for independence. They fought the Whiteman on Chetambe hills though
they have never seen any material reward. Tachoni are stereotyped to be having
a big accommodative heart even from their usual jokes to the Bukusu, ‘Khumuleka na khumwibulamo’ meaning
however much they despise the Bukusu, they still marry them. Jointly then, people
of Bungoma should unite and extend their humble mulembe culture to baambukha njoya and other mulembe counties
to elevate one son of Mulembe to that highest pinnacle they have always dreamt
of.
Job wanyama Lunani
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