ORIGIN, MIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT OF ABAMACHINA CLAN Abamachina people were great archers and came from Ebuyemba hill of Mbale in Eastern Uganda and moved upto Matungu of Kakamega County in Western Kenya. Ebuyemba was a confluence point of Banyala, Masaaba(Bagisu) and Busoga people. It is likely that Abamachina descended from this peoples before they moved eastwards. From Matungu they went to Sibembe in South Bukusu and met other immigrants of Tachoni and Teremi origin already settled there under Iyaya se Monyei of Abangachi clan. While here Abamachina practiced the art of hunting extensively and crossed river Nzoia at Siyenga fort to Shiyombe which is in the current Bunyala of Navakholo. By then the vast land from Bunyala of Kakamega upto Uasin Gishu was uninhabited and was a thicket of bushes which provided enough hunting grounds for Abamachina. During their hunting exploits they were armed with spears, bows, arrows, traps, clubs and dogs always ready to pounce on the prey. While at Eshiyombe they built the first village of human settlement ever across River Nzoia and which village became the first confluence point of Abalasi clans that composed of Abamachina, Abaluu, Abatobo, Abasila. Abamutama, Abamusaka, Abachimalia and Abasoko. Abalasi literally means shooters and thus Abalasi clans famed of being the mighty hunters of wild animals. From Shiyombe Abamachina built another village at Mwihune near Ingotse from where some families moved upto Ituti and Emachina of Butere and they are called Abamachina Abamakambo and others went to Idakho and are called Abechina. Another group of Abamachina moved to Lukume, Burundu, Sambuli, Shikutse, Chekulo Malekha, Shipala, Busunu upto Surungai. The eponymous ancestor of Abamachina clan was called Machina and he was the father of three sons namely; Tonje, Ndenga and Makunda. Tonje was the father of Munyole (the ancestor of Baba/Kuka Mohamed Sudi), Bwalava and Makhulubi. Ndenga was the father of Wasamere (the ancestor of my wife Betty Wanyona Lunanii, Mukhwasi Chris Maliongovi se Sambenje and Mukhwasi Fredrick Ndawane) se Luka. Lastly Makunda was the father of Angatia, Saya, Mutuba, Wanamanda (the ancestor of Kuka Erastus Lutomia). The totem of Abamachina is obwanga/limera this means malta that is used to make brew. It is a taboo among Abamachina to spit malta on omumachina as it brings bad luck. Abamachina declare themselves as Shiyombe, Kamalo, Marungu and Waseta. The renowned omwami this means leader of Abamachina people was called Shiuma se Amondo son of Munyole son of Tonje son of Machina. He is famed of having led Abamachina throughout fierce hunting and war expeditions all the way from Shiyombe upto Surungai. He was a great and strong warrior who was feared at battle front. His headquarters were at Chekulo village near Mavusi Secondary School where he had built a famous fort named after him. Shiuma became the pioneer ruler of Abalasi clans when they converged at Shiyombe. Shiuma sired only daughters in his lifetime and thus he never had sons. While leading Abalasi clans Shiuma was assisted by the council of elders which was made up of his nephew Muse se Lavani of Abaluu a revered musena omuse, Chisindayi se Werabachwa of Abasoko clan who was omungosi this means oracle, Matini se Ashinda of Abasila clan who was a interpretor, Muyaka se Chikati of Abatobo and others. When Joseph Thomson a Scottish explorer arrived in Abalasi this means Kabaras in 1883, Shiuma was advanced in age and had handed over the leadership of Abalasi clans to his nephew Muse se Lavani of Abaluu clan while at Surungai village near Lukova Primary School. Muse was the son of the sister of Shiuma who had married Muchami son of Lavani of Abaluu clan. Shiuma loved his nephew most because he was a brave warrior, a great herder, good listener and used to assist him in his roles as omwami of Abalasi clans. It is for this reasons that he anointed Muse to succeed him with the approval of the supreme council of Abalasi. Thus when Thomson arrived at Mulukova lwa Mala se Amondo in Surungai Muse had succeeded his uncle Shiuma and directed the white man to Elureko this means Mumias the home of King Mumia of Wanga Kingdom. Chroniclers reveal that it is not known where Shiuma died as they allege he just disappeared. Whether he was killed by wild animals in the bushes while hunting or killed by intruders it is not clear as the circumstances surrounding his death has remained a mystery among Abamachina for ages! However his nephew Muse died at Chekulo village near Mavusi in about 1904.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 08:55:57 +0000
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