14/01/2019
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🍌 KASIPUL CLAN
Kasipul clan is one of the prominent clans of the Kiseru Luos who live in the fertile inland plateau also called Mumbo on the flanks of the Kisii highlands. Their closest relatives are the Jo-Karachuonyo, Jo-Kowidi (Karateng', Kapuonja, Kanyawegi etc...), Jo-Wanjare, Jo-Sidho, Jo-Mkseru, Jo-Mikiria and Jo-Kakimba clans among others. The Bagiseru people were initially a non-Luo ethnic group but were assimilated into Luo culture, adopting the Luo language over their own Bantu language.
Oyugis is the habitation of Jo-Kasipul people, and they refer to Rachuonyo as their ancestral father. We are told in oral history that the great Rachuonyo was son of Elder Kiseru Ajwang' and his brothers were Owidi, Wanjare etc. Chwanya, on the other hand, was his maternal cousin and they vertually came to regard each other as brothers and discourage any intermarriage between their descendants.
It is said that Rachuonyo was a "jamwa" (from a non-Luo ethnic group). A Luo man called Chien from Jo-Kowiny sub-group of Luo community adopted him in his home so that he was like his own son. Chien had a wife called Ajok or commonly Omieri who was a barren woman as she was not giving birth to children. And when Chien was about to die, he instructed that Ajok be remarried to Rachuonyo. After Chien's death, Ajok conceived with Rachuonyo and gave birth to a son called Sipul. It was from Sipul, the son of Rachuonyo, where the Luo clan of Kasipul originated.
As the time went, Sipul married and gave birth to two sons: Omala, the elder son, and Owidi, the younger one. When these two sons grew up they married and established what are now the two major sub-clans of the Kasipul, that is Komala, also known as Kabondo, and Kowidi or commonly Kasipul respectively. Omala's people came to be known as "Kabondo", the name derived from his mother. Later, Sipul also married the younger wife of his father Rachuonyo. The Kasipul clan is now divided into various sub-clans, and most of these sub-clans have derived their names from Sipul's son in their ancestral lineage.
The Jo-Kasipul comprise the Kowidi, Kachien, Komala, Kabudi, Kakeno, Kadada, Kolondo and Kodumo sub-clans. The Jo-Kowidi are the largest and dominant sub-clan and are mainly based in the settlement of Lower Oyugis. They are composed of the Kanyango, Kokal, Kojwach, Kogudi, Kokwanyo, Kakelo, Konyango, Kotieno and Kodera families. Owidi's mother was known as Adungu Nyar-Tweng'a. The family clusters of the Jo-Kowidi sub-clan can be divided into three localities:
1) West Kowidi
Kodera, Kotieno, Kokal and Kanyango.
2) Central Kowidi
Kogudi and Konyango (which is the largest is comprised of Kawere, Kamuma, Kachieng' and Kagola).
3) East Kowidi
Kokwanyo, Kakelo and Kojwach.
Sipul's first wife, Bondo, gave birth to five sons but only the son called Omala established himself. Omala is the forefather of the Komala sub-clan who are the predominant group in the settlement of Upper Oyugis. It is comprised of the Kakang'utu, Kodhoch, Kasewe and Kowidi families.
The Kabudi, Kakeno and Kadada sub-clans, on the other hand, are collectively known under the name of their mother, Kanyakila, and are dominant in the settlement Upper Oyugis. Achieng' Nyakila was married by Rachuonyo. Unfortunately when Rachuonyo died, she had not had any child. Sipul remarried her and begot three sons: Abudi, elder son, then Akeno and Dada were the last two. These three sons of Achieng' Nyakila are said to be the ancestors of the three sub-clans of Kabudi, Kakeno and Kadada respectively. Unfortunately, the descendants of Achieng' Nyakila's three sons were absorbed by the Kodumo sub-clan due to the colonial administrative units that were established by the British administration. So today we have a large sub-clan of Kodumo who are the descendants of both Achieng' Nyakila and Omenya. As a result, the descendants of Achieng' among the Jo-Kodumo people became Kodumo Kanyakila.
From the genealogical point of view, the Kodumo sub-clan of Kasipul did not originate from Sipul. Achieng' Nyakila, the youngest wife of Sipul, had a sister called Omenya who was married in Kanyada but her relationship with the husband was not good. Therefore, she divorced her husband after staying for a short while. Omenya had a son, Odumo where the sub-clan's name originated. And then she took Odumo with her to see her sister, Achieng' Nyakila. There she was remarried by her sister's husband and her son Odumo was adopted by Sipul. Omenya also had another son with Sipul called Olondo. As it is a today, Kodumo is a broad sub-clan of Kasipul comprising two sections, the Kanyakila-Kolondo (true descendants of Sipul) and Koluoch.
And earlier when Rachuonyo decided to move away from Chien's home to establish his own place, the descendants of Chien moved with Rachuonyo and today we have the Kachien sub-clan among the Kasipul clan who descended from Chien. The Jo-Kachien people today inhabit western parts of Central Kowidi locality in the settlement of Lower Oyugis. The branches of Kachien sub-clan include the Karabok, Kachianda, Kobondo, Kaditonge and Kaluoch, and are considered the original inhabitants of the land where the Kasipul people live presently.
Jo-Kachien people do not intermarry with the other sub-clans of Kasipul because the latter were descendants of Ajok, their mother, who was formerly Chien's wife. However, the Karachuonyo clan of Kendu Bay intermarry both the Kachien and Kodumo sub-clans because they don't claim blood relationship which would forbid intermarriage. This is because the forefather of Jo-Kodumo people, Odumo, was only an illegitimate child whose mother was married by Sipul, the founder of Kasipul clan. At the same time, being that Rachuonyo inherited Chien's wife, Ajok, do not make the Karachuonyo proper and Kachien people blood related. In spite of that, the Karachuonyo proper do not intermarry with the rest of Kasipul sub-clans who descended from legitimate sons of Sipul.
The Kasipul people and other minor clans like the Sidho, Mikiria, Masamaro, Mkseru, Kowidi (Karateng) and Ramogi landed south of the Winam gulf around 16th century and settled mainly in the inland plateau of Mumbo, and that is, Upper and Lower Oyugis settlements. These other Luo clans were friendly to Kasipul people and migrated along with them inland to Mumbo village in the present-day Kodera. Later, most of them merged with the Kasipul people as one big people of Mumbo. The people of Kasipul clan live in one of the most fertile areas of Southern Nyanza. Oyugis district has a very attractive rainfall pattern and blessed with red-soil, which is conducive for the production of crops such as corn, millet, groundnuts, beans, fruits, cabbages, bananas, sweet potatoes, watermelons and tomatoes.
The entire Kasipul people migrated to what is now Oyugis settlement because inter-clan conflicts began to develop between them and their brothers, the Karachuonyo clan. The hatred which the Kasipul had to suffer while living with the Karachuonyo proper contributed to the division between the two clans. They also moved to escape the drought in areas like Huma hills and Kendu Bay within the lowland savanna. The great war hero known as Oyugi Rapemo led the Kasipul clan inland to a place around the present-day Kodera forest where they established a village called Mumbo. But before they established themselves they had to fight the Waswa and Basi-Gusii people who were living there.
Consequently, the Kasipul clan fought Gusii up to the flanks of Manga hills where they settled for a period of time. As a result of this migration, their traditional emphasis on cattle was supplemented by farming and an increasing importance of crops in their economy. It is noteworthy that Kasipul — Gusii clashes were also caused by cattle rustling activities against Luo. At the same time, the wars of expansion fought by the Kagan and Gem clans forced the Kasipul people to expand into Basi-Gusii territory. There was also hostility between the Kasipul and their western neighbors like the Kamagambo, Kagan, Gem and Kochia clans. The Kasipul fought away this front and drove all of them away. In fact, they succeeded in killing a Gem hero known as Owade near the present River Owade. At the same time, the Waswa (Yimbo) who had been driven from Central Nyanza were then occupying the inland plateau of Kasipul. Oyugi defeated the Waswa and other groups, thus the Kasipul people occupied the rich land of present day Oyugis.
After this the Kasipul people stayed in Mumbo village for a time then the other sub-clans decided to split from the dominant Kowidi people to look for a place where they would not be suppressed by the Kowidi sub-clan. At the same time, the Kasipul began to spread out of Mumbo village to other parts of the present Oyugis settlement due to population pressure. During this spread a major war worth noting occurred between them and Kipsigis. In order to control over entire inland plateau, the Kasipul also had to fight the Kipsigis who were threatening their eastern borders.
The Kanyakila-Kolondo, Komala and Kodumo sub-clans emigrated to seek settlement in the present Upper Oyugis settlement. Their leader was an elder called Njoga who was a ritual leader. They moved eastwards fighting the Kipsigis people as they moved along, and eventually settled at Opanga village. They also fought the Basi-Gusii on the south. On the other hand, the Basi-Gusii and Kipsigis did not combine their forces to fight the three sub-clans of Kasipul, each of the two ethnic groups fought separately. They drove some Basi-Gusii people away and also some Kipsigis who were invading Sondu area. The Kanyakila-Kolondo, Kodumo and Komala sub-clans even extended their influence into Nyakach. Later, however, the Kipsigis raided the settlement of Upper Oyugis and scattered them to places such as Sango and Nyabondo plateau where they were later driven away by the Jo-Nyakach.
Before the arrival of the Europeans, there were magicians who were regarded as leaders in Luo community. These magicians were consulted in times of trouble like war and drought. Thus, the people of Kasipul clan were ruled by traditional chieftains or magicians before the coming of the European administration. The first traditional chieftain was Sangoro from Kowidi Konyango. He was succeeded by Sindala Oyada who also came from Konyango. Sindala was succeeded by Oyugi Ochola. And during Oyugi's reign the Europeans came. The first people in Kasipul to establish relations with foreigners were Bala Oyugi, Sindala Oyada and Sangoro. These people had gone to Kano during Kitoto's chieftainship and stayed there after Kitoto himself had died and was succeeded by his son Owiti in 1902. Kano Plains on the northeastern shorelines of the Winam Gulf was known as a prosperous area, site of a Swahili trade depot.
While in Kano, the three men worked for Kitoto and later became servants for Arab traders, accompanying them on their trading excursions. In this way they learnt Swahili language and were soon introduced to the British administration in Kisumu by the Arabs as possible allies, to be made leaders in Kasipul clan. As far as the Arab traders were concerned, if any of the three men became chief of Kasipul, he would ensure that their trading activities in South Kavirondo would be free from the hostilities of the local people. The Arabs were particularly apprehensive about the activities of one, Oyugi Onger from Kowidi Kakelo, who traded in hides and also snatched trade goods from the Arabs who reported the matter to the British. The administration in Kisumu thought that Oyugi Onger must be a local leader in Kasipul and wanted to make him Chief of Kasipul. The Arabs revealed this to Bala who, without informing his colleagues, immediately travelled to his home in Kowidi Kanyango to bring his own Father Oyugi Ochola whom he presented to the administration as Oyugi Onger. Oyugi Ochola wuon Bala was duly received, dressed in chiefly regalia and made haedman of Kasipul. He established his camp near Agoro Sare. A town which later sprung up near his base also came to be known as Oyugi's–Oyugis town.
On the other hand, the first contacts between the Jo-Kodumo and Jo-Komala people in the settlement of Upper Oyugis and the colonial administration were occasioned by ethnic clashes between them and the Kipsigis. A hunting expedition had taken a few Jo-Kodumo and Jo-Komala hunters to the boundary with the Kipsigis, near Sondu, and a fight ensued between the hunters and the Kipsigis. The matter was soon communicated to the DC in Kisumu. Thereafter, a group of askaris led by a DO were immediately dispatched to the Kabondo Fort at Opanga in the settlement of Upper Oyugis to raid cattle as punishment for the crime the hunters had committed. A man called Nyang'wara from Komala Kasewe was then appointed headman in Upper Oyugis settlement partly because of his ability to communicate in Kiswahili. However, he served as a headman for a very short time. On another occasion, another DO made a Safari to Kabondo Fort and made Obudho Minene from Komala Kodhoch headman in place of Nyang'wara. By 1908 the entire Kasipul clan were then placed under British control and ruled by Headmen imposed upon them by the colonial administration. Unlike their Kiseru Gusiis neighbors such as the Bagusero, the Kasipul did not ask for British protection. But the local incidents, such as the conflict between the people of Upper Oyugis settlement and the Kipsigis prompted the British to establish effective control on Kasipul clan.
In summary, the British administration separated the Kasipul people from their brothers in Karachuonyo, and established the area as one administrative unit. They appointed one famous medicine man, Oyugi Wuon Bala as the first Kasipul chieftain in 1907. When Oyugi grew old he was replaced by Omiti from Konyango, however, it did not take long before the British administration installed Auma Ogalo from Kachieng' as the colonial chief of Mumbo location who is reputed to have ruled for only six months, and then the people reinstated Omiti now as colonial chief. It was during Auma's reign that the administrative machinery began to be strongly influenced by Europeans. Omiti too ruled briefly and was replaced by another person who was his clerk from Konyango called Owili, and then came Chief Obewa Wuon Simba from Kowidi Kotieno.
In 1940, the colonial administration identified one ex-soldier during the War I in the name of Gideon Magak, who was one of the orderlies at the Kisii D.C.'s Office, and appointed him the new chief of Kasipul people. Chief Magak from Kowidi Kokal, who was a huge and strongly built tall man, embarked on draconian rule. During his reign Mumbo experienced stability and much progress and this hard work earned him a nickname "Magak Odeka Popi Wuod Oyata Nyar Kabondo." Education became compulsory exercise for children of all sexes. Chief Magak was also unique in that he had many wives and some of them were equally industrious. They are said to have dedicated most of their precious time to the community, encouraging their fellow women to adopt the spirit of hard work. The wives of Chief Magak Odeka were more than ten and the prominent ones who are celebrated for good deeds are Dorsila Akong'o Nyar-Matunga (Min Owili), Zilpa Akumu Nyar-Bulwa (Min Odiam), Agnes Karan Nyar-Omumbo (Min Maritha), Christabel Ogat (Min Bong'o), Turphosa and Roda. Mama Agnes Karan is the one who built the magnificent Chief Magak Odeka's grave. In fact, Dorsila, Karan and Zilpa maintained the reputation of Chief Magak Odeka that even after his death the chief's home was still respected and well spoken of. But when the three women died, the fame of Chief Magak Odeka began to fade out.
Chief Magak Odeka collaborated well with early missionaries and this contributed greatly towards the establishment of many primary schools in the villages throughout Mumbo location. This witnessed the birth of schools like Agoro Sare, Wang’apala, Nyang'iela, Oriang’, Ober, Saye, and Karabok. In 1954, Mumbo location was split into two new locations. The three sub-clans of Kanyakila-Kolondo, Kodumo and Komala demanded for their own chief and Odada Abonyo was appointed the new chief in the settlement of Upper Oyugis. He built the chief's camp at Ramula near Kabondo Fort and the name of their location became Kabondo. When Magak left Zakaria Aseda Mola took over from him as the new chief of Kowidi and Kachien sub-clans.
