Tachoni

The Tachoni people are one of the tribes occupying the widely known western region of Kenya sharing land with the Luhyia tribe and the Sabaots at the slopes of Mt Elgon, They currently share boundaries with the Bukusus, Kabras, Nandi and the Sabaots. They're known for their gallant defense of the Chetambe in 1895 while resisting the British rule. Tachoni people were masters at building forts such as Chetambe, Lumboka, and Kiliboti.^[1] It was their defiance of colonialism that led to the colonial government putting the entire region occupied by the Tachoni under administration of paramount chiefs drawn from Bunyala and Wanga communities and later forced to be a subtribe under the luhyia community. Most of their lands were kept under government ownership by the colonial leadership like the lands formerly known as white settlement schemes covering Lugari and Likuyani regions. Sharing the land with the Abanyala, the Kabras,^[2] Nandi, and Bukusu tribe. They live mainly in Webuye, Chetambe Hills, Ndivisi (of Bungoma County) Matete sub-county-Lwandeti, Maturu, Mayoyo, Lukhokho, Kiliboti, Kivaywa, Chepsai,^[3] and Lugari sub-county in Kakamega County. Most Tachoni clans living in Bungoma speak the ' Olutachoni dialect of the Luhya language after their main dialect was fought down by the white settlers for they had resisted the whites administration, and they are subsequently often mistaken as Bukusus but not even part of the luhyia community. They spread to Trans-Nzoia County especially around Kitale,Kiminini, Tongaren and to Uasin Gishu County near Turbo, soy, Eldoret. Among the Tachoni clans are Abachikha -further divided into Abakobolo, Abamuongo, Abachambai,Abamakhanga, Abacharia, and Abakabini, Abamarakalu, Abangachi -who are further divided into: Abawaila, Abakhumaya and Abawele, Abasang'alo, Abasamo, Abayumbu (mostly around Webuye), Abaluu, Abarefu,Abanyangali, Abamuchembi, Abamakhuli, Abasioya, Abaabichu,Abacheo, Abamachina,Abaengele, Abamutama, Abakafusi, Abasonge, Abasaniaka, Abaabiya also known as Abakatumi (Abamuumbwa, Abachikolati and Abamuruli), Abakubwayi,Abakamutebi, Abakamukong, Abamweya, Abalukulu,Abawande, Abatukiika, Abachimuluku.^[4] Note that the morpheme 'aba' means 'people'. The Abakhusia/abasamo of Kabras are also Tachonis who speak Kikabras. Abayumbu and Abaluu are twin brothers, hence do not intermmary.^[5]

The community members trace their origin to a place called El-Matruh, Egypt (Misri), From Egypt, the followed the Nile down into the present day Kenya.^[6] Important areas on the Tachoni migration route include Sirikwa, which is referred to most by scholars to link Tachoni and Kalenjin ethnic group.^[7]

It is important to note that, histiorically, the Tachoni people were known by different names. Some of the names include the Kitoki, Kitosh, Evekwe-those from the East, Sirikwa, and Tashone.^[8]

Most of the Tachonis'are widely spread across the country since they were scattered by the British colonialism. The colonial leadership ensured they scattered these people so as to break their unity that had led to great resistance at the chetambe hills.

It's difficult to estimate their numbers but according to history, it's stated that they were the largest group occupying the western region of Kenya before the entry of the bagisu who're now Bukusus into the land.

Note: Tachoni people are not luhyias nor kalenjins.

Tachonis'trace their ancestry from Egypt while luhyias trace theirs from congo basin. Kalenjins and Tachonis'share most of their things together as it is noted during migration, Tachoni met the first kalenjin groups at white Nile and came together up to some regions of Omo where they both settled till the second group came and proceeded together into Kenya.

Later they separated at a region near Kitale where some kalenjin groups moved downwards to the Uasin-gishu region while others went upwards to Mt Elgon. Those who went upwards included the Tachonis' with them which later remained at the mountain slopes while Tachonis' moved to occupy the entire western region which was by then unoccupied.

Politically, Bukusus were introduced into Kenya to finnish the Tachoni people. Luhyia community was formed to kill the Tachoni people. Tachoni people are not Luhyias. Assimilation has made the public to misunderstand the facts. It will take a hard way and act to reclaim the Tachoni people who have already lost everything including ancestry lands, dialect spoken, Naming and as we're speaking they only hold on a culture which is slowly fading.

Circumcision

The tribe is rich in beliefs and taboos. The most elaborate cultural practice they have is circumcision.

The Tachoni practice circumcision in August of every even year. When the boys are circumcised, they go hunting in the village's forest for birds and guineafowl (likhanga), and a meal is prepared for them when they return in the evening. Most meals for initiates are rich in protein and Ugali (a staple-food across Kenya, which is called 'Obusuma' in Tachoni) in order to replace blood lost during the circumcision.

The Tachoni tribe believe in 'okhulicha' (rites of passage [the training of initiates in adult roles before they are considered to be adults]). The boys are taken to 'Esitabicha' where they are taught adult behavior.^[9] They are told secrets of the community which they are not to reveal to anyone. This is done by elderly members of the Tachoni community who have undergone the same ritual. They are taught Tachoni beliefs, philosophy, values and practices.

After the rite of passage, Okhulicha, the initiates are assigned an age set, which follow a particular order, based on the year of circumcision. The Tachoni age sets are as follows(taking into account the year of circumcision and the name of the age set): Bakolongolov1900-1910; Bakikwameti 1912–1922; Bakananachi 1924–1934; Bakinyikeu 1936–1946; Banyange 1948–1958; Bamaina 1960–1970; Bachuma 1972–1986; Basawa1988-1998; Bakolongolo 2000–2010; and Bakikwameti 2012–2022.^[10][11]

The Tachoni and Bukusus share naming of age sets,^[12] but several key factors differentiate the Tachoni and Bukusu circumcision rituals. For instance, during circumcision, Tachoni boys face towards the East as they are circumcised whereas Bukusu boys face the West.

Economy

The Tachoni practice farming as well as the rearing of cattle. A few engage in business.

Politics

Notable politicians^[13] among the Tachoni include John Chikati, Nabii Nabwera- current MP for Lugari Constitueny,^[14] Martin Wanyonyi Pepel- current MP for Webuye East Constituency,^[15] Alfred Wekesa Sambu of Webuye, Dr. Noah Wekesa of Kwanza in Trans Nzoia, long-serving Councillor & Webuye Mayor and Current Minority Leader Kakamega County Assembly - John Mweyi Ngome, Amos Kaburu[Educationist],Nabii Nabwera {Council of Governors} and John Weyusia Nanyakha (the first Mihuu Ward Member of County Assembly). Those who have died include: Johnstone Welangai - former Malava large constituency and former high commissioner of Kenya to Uganda; Joshua Mulanda Angatia, former minister for health and member of parliament for Malava constituency;^[16] Munialo Matianyi, the first Chief of Mawe Tatu and a close confidant of Alfred Wekesa Sambu; former minister of state and secretary general of KANU Burudi Nabwera, Dr Noah Wekesa - former minister for tourism and wildlife and chairman of Jubilee Party; and Professor Everret Standa - a former vice chancellor of Kenyatta University and chairman of the commission of higher education.

Peter Buruti Sifuma Namisi,Jonathan Welangai Masinde- former member of parliament for Lurambi North,^[17] & Burudi Nabwera are the legends of Tachoni politics. Don't forget Wasike Binyenya (omumwalie)as well.

Wasilwa se-Wekesa, chairman of Tachoni Cultural Society (TACUSO) is also a notable figure in Tachoni community.^[18]

Dialects

Tachoni people speak different dialects basing on their geographical location in the country. Since they were scattered and displaced from their original lands, they had to settle among different tribes thus had to drop their dialects and adopt to the new dialects used by their hosts.

Those living among the luhyia tribes speak a dialect close to those of the west known as olutachoni while those living among the kalenjins in Tambach, Nandi and kericho they do speak a kalenjin dialect too.

See also

• Tachoni people
• The Tachoni history

References

1. "About Tachoni People | The Web of God's Tachoni". olutachoni.com. 2018-02-01. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
2. Lihraw, Demmahom Olovodes (2010). The Tachon peoples of Kenya : history, culture and economy. Nairobi: PERC-PACE International. ISBN 978-9966-9670-1-5. OCLC 690905506.
3. "About Tachoni People | The Web of God's Tachoni". olutachoni.com. 2018-02-01. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
4. Lihraw, Demmahom Olovodes (2010). The Tachon peoples of Kenya : history, culture and economy. Nairobi: PERC-PACE International. ISBN 978-9966-9670-1-5. OCLC 690905506.
5. Lihraw, Demmahom Olovodes (2010). The Tachon peoples of Kenya : history, culture and economy. Nairobi: PERC-PACE International. ISBN 978-9966-9670-1-5. OCLC 690905506.
6. Lihraw, Demmahom Olovodes (2010). The Tachon peoples of Kenya : history, culture and economy. Nairobi: PERC-PACE International. ISBN 978-9966-9670-1-5. OCLC 690905506.
7. M., Nakitare, Maurice S. (1989). The origins, migration and settlement of the Tachoni : an account of oral traditions. University of Nairobi, Dept. of History. OCLC 654704400.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
8. Lihraw, Demmahom Olovodes (2010). The Tachon peoples of Kenya : history, culture and economy. Nairobi: PERC-PACE International. ISBN 978-9966-9670-1-5. OCLC 690905506.
9. Kakai, Pius Wanyonyi (1995). "Cultural Aspects and Social Integration: A Study of Tachoni Initiation Ritual Ideas". Transafrican Journal of History. 24: 216–223. ISSN 0251-0391. JSTOR 24328666.
10. Kakai, Pius Wanyonyi (1995). "Cultural Aspects and Social Integration: A Study of Tachoni Initiation Ritual Ideas". Transafrican Journal of History. 24: 216–223. ISSN 0251-0391. JSTOR 24328666.
11. "Luhya social and cultural Heritage – Bukusu Circumcision and Ageset | TAMBUA AFRICA NEWS". Retrieved 2023-02-06.
12. Wanyonyi., Kakai, Pius (1995). Cultural aspects and social integration: a study of Tachoni initiation ritual ideas. OCLC 770668174.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
13. "Battle for the Tachoni vote intensifies as Wangamati, Lusaka angle for a share". Nation. 2022-06-20. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
14. "HON. NABII NABWERA DARAJA | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
15. "Search for Martin Wanyonyi | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
16. "Joshua Mulanda Angatia – The High School Head who called out corruption in the Cabinet – Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board". cabinets.kenyayearbook.co.ke. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
17. OBARE, -JUMA KWAYERA AND OSINDE. "Former Lurambi North MP Jonathan Masinde dies in Eldoret". The Standard. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
18. "Why Tachonis are demanding the Bungoma Senate seat". Nation. 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2023-02-06.

• Demmahom, Olovodes Lihraw (2010). The Tachon peoples of Kenya: history, culture and economy. Nairobi: PERC-PACE International. ISBN 9789966967015.
• Nakitare, Maurice Munasie Situma (1991). A pre-colonial history of Abatachoni, 1500-1900 A.D.: A study in socio-cultural change (Doctoral Thesis) (Thesis). University of Nairobi.