HISTORY OF THE MARACHI COMMUNITY
The Marachi are one of sixteen or more subtribes of the Luhya people of Kenya. Nestled between the Samia, Khayo and Wanga, the Marachi occupy a land area comparatively smaller than the other Luhya tribes in Busia District. In their native Luhya language, the people of Marachi are known as Abamarachi, their land Bumarachi or Ebumarachi and their dialect Lumarachi. Marachi land is divided into East, West, Central, and North Marachi locations.
Significant towns in Marachi are Butula and Bumala. Marachi land has several villages namely; Elukongo, Emauko, Siribo, Bumala "A", Bumala "B", Esikoma, Simuli, Bulwani, Matsanza, Bumakhudu, Bwaliro, Lunyiko, Siamakondi, Emakwara, Mafubu, Kalalani, Tingolo, Bumutiru, Ibanda, Buyayi, Sirandala, Masenjekho, Butunyi, Igula, Burinda, Bujumba, Kingandole, Khunyangu, Buhuyi, Bukhalalire, Busiada, Bumagunda, Namusala, Enakaywa, Madola, Khareka, Mung'ambwa, Bulemia, Emagombe, Esigomere, Emalomba, Lugulu, Bukuyudi Elara, Sibembe, Bukhwaku, Bumina, Echengo, Siroba, Khulunyu, Dadira, Namwitsula, Busire, Buriya, Busibula, Masebula, Isongo, Nango, Bulindo.
Clans that form the Abamarachi community are Ababere, Abafofoyo, Abamuchama, Abatula, Abamurono, Abang'ayo, Ababule, Abamulembo, Abatelia, Abapwati, Abasumia, Abarano, Abasimalwa, Abakwera, Abamutu, Abamalele, Abakolwe, Ababonwe, Abamucheka, Abaliba, Ababirang'u,Abakolwe, Abade, Abasubo, Abamalere.
Abamarachi are a conglomeration of the above-mentioned clans who were under the leadership of Ng'ono Mwami in pre-colonial days. The name Marachi is derived from Ng'ono Mwami's father, who was called Marachi, son of Musebe, the son of Sirikwa. So, all the Marachi clans owed their allegiance to Ng'ono Mwami, from whose lineage of Ababere clan they were founded. The name Marachi was given further impetus by the war-like lifestyle of the descendants of Ng'ono, who ruthlessly fought off the Luo expansion of the Jok Omollo, a Nilotic group that sought to control the Nzoia and Sio Rivers in the area and the fishing grounds around the gulf of Erukala and Ebusijo-modern Port Victoria and Sio Port respectively.
This effort to thwart the Luo influence kept the Luo on the other side of River Nzoia in Ugunja and Rundiye areas. The Luo word "Marach" denotes a bad person, so Abamarachi were called Marach since they had defeated them in warfare; which was Luyanised into Marachi by affixing a vowel syllable at the end. Ng'ono Mwami had three sons, namely Mulaa, Kusimba, and Odunya Mboko. Their children and grandchildren formed a formidable army that formed a ring around the Marachi kingdom. There were ten sub-clans who settled in various villages strategically to protect the integrity of Marachi. This are:
- Banamangi - settled in Bujumba, Bulwani, Elara, Kholera (North Wanga), Wakhungu (Samia)
- Abamache - in Busiada, Inyengwe, Malanga, Bukhuma, Eluche
- Abakholo - Settled in Bulwani, Namusala, Sibembe, Ibanda, Bukhakhala
- Abamulembwa - settled in Inungo, Khulubanga (North Wanga), Bar-Ober
- Abamakasi - settled in Enduru, Nyalwanda, Sifundulira
- Abakudwa - settled in Kingandole, Esieywe, Murende, Ebumeri
- Abekaya - settled in Ematsanza, Ikonzo, Nangina (Samia), Ebujwang'a (Samia)
- Abanamwinywi - settled in Ebulemia, Nelaa, Mung'ambwa, Yatsilalo (North Ugenya)
- Ababwango - settled in Akanyo, Sirabulwo
- Abadunyi - settled in Edadira, Ebujwang'a
The original amakunda/homesteads of Ababere are as follows:
- Elwanda (East Ugenya) founded by Ng'ono Mwami
- Inyengwe (East Ugenya) founded by Mulaa
- Inungo (East Ugenya) founded by Mulaa
- Gama (East Ugenya) founded by Kaibe
- Ralaki (East Ugenya) founded by Omina Nakudi
- Ebudimbe (East Ugenya) founded by Olaka
- Bumeri (East Ugenya) founded by Mulayi
- Yatsilalo (East Ugenya) founded by Oyiko
- Busiada founded by Osama
- Bukhalalire founded by Odembo
- Namusala founded by Obiero
- Nyaranga founded by Odoli
- Emagombe founded by Olunga
- Emalanga founded by Adieri
- Eluche founded by Maima
- Elukakha founded by Mwene nayiya
- Ebudaliko founded by Sieunda
- Emalomba founded by Adieri
- Ebuloma founded by Obakha
- Ebulwani founded by Majwanda
- Esiekodi founded by Mbeja
- Imanga founded by Mulayi
- Kingandole founded by Opata
- Enduru founded by Wakulwa
- Ebudunga founded by Wanganya
- Nyalwanda founded by Okoth
- Esieywe founded by Muduku
- Simori founded by Onganga
- Ebutunyi founded by Odunya Mboko
- Emukane founded by Mukono
- Bwaliro founded by Mulamba
- Sirabulwo founded by Mayero
- Bujumba founded by Butuba
- Bukhakhala founded by Majwanda
- Ivanda[ibanda] fouhded by Ofisi
- Esigulu founded by Sikemo
- Murende founded by Ouma
- Esibembe founded by Ngala
- Ematsanza founded by Auma Nakudi
- Mundasi founded by Namusenda
- Ebugeng'i founded by Mulaa
- Emasinde founded by Siadi
- Ebuduba Mboko founded by Omoto
Some famous markets and towns in Marachi and the founders follows:
- Bumala - founded by Shiundu, belonging to Abafofoyo clan of Busia
- Bukhalalire - founded by Opaso, belonging to Ababere
- Oloo - founded by Oloo Adonda, belonging to Ababere
- Bulemia - belonging to Ababere
- Butula - belonging to Abafofoyo
- Ogalo - founded by Ogalo, belonging to Ababere
- Murumba - belonging to Abang'ayo
In pre-colonial times, all the Marachi clans were united under their ruler, Ng'ono Mwami. This unity continued until the arrival of Europeans, who found it difficult to work with the ruling Ababere clan due to their war-like nature and resistance to colonialism. As a result, they appointed chiefs from the Abafofoyo clan, such as Oduya and later Laurent Ongoma, to rule Marachi. Before colonialism, the rulers of Marachi were:
- Ng'ono Mwami in pre-colonial days
- Mulaa Ng'ono in pre-colonial days
- Olaka Owuor in pre-colonial days
- Amuga Olaka up to the advent of Europeans in the 1880s.
According to history, Mareba, the founding father of the Abafofoyo, had settled in Ebulagira after fleeing the feud over kingship in Buganda. He, along with his cousin Muwanga, fled eastwards from Buganda and settled in different regions of Western Kenya. Mareba is considered the founding father of Abafofoyo, the last clan to be assimilated and accommodated among the Marachi. Due to their small numbers in the new settlement, Abafofoyo had to assimilate other groups like Abaderia, Ababere, Abamalere, and other Abafofoyo clans, which was made easier by their common Bantu ancestry and intermarriage, especially between Ababere and Abafofoyo. Omoto, the son of Mareba, was dispatched to the periphery of what would become Ebumarachi to settle at Murende hills, also known as Ebumala, meaning a place where raids are taken. To this day, Kabwodo is known for its cattle raiding escapades. Omoto settled in Ebumala and invited his cousin Shiundu to come and settle there as well. Another brother of Shiundu, Kadima, was sent to Ebulemia and started the clan of Abamulembo from the Wanga clan Bamulembwa, marking the consolidation of the Wanga and Marachi kingdom. As the Abafofoyo became secure from palace wars in Uganda and attacks from hostile neighbors such as Luos and Teso, they were able to multiply into the big clan they are today.
Abafofoyo are spread in what they call Amakunda-homesteads where their forefathers lived. There are basically five settlements of the Abafofoyo:
- Chengo and Indangalasia, where Yakobo Kuchio settled
- Ebutula, where Ex-Senior Chief Laurende Ongoma settled
- Elugulu, where Ndubi settled
- Esikoma, where Walobwa settled
- Ebujumba, where Rajula settled
These settlements were a strategic move to space the kingdom and keep away from disease attacks.
While researching on the Marachi Mzee Hannington Omoto Nyangoro[Now the late], is told that In the historical context of the Marachi community, the settlements and leadership played crucial roles in shaping the dynamics of the region. The Abafofoyo, as part of the Marachi community, continued to thrive, multiply, and adapted to the changing circumstances at those times.
Over time, the Marachi community witnessed significant changes with the advent of colonial rule. European influence brought about new challenges and disruptions to their traditional way of life. The appointment of chiefs by the colonial authorities and the imposition of new governance structures altered the traditional leadership of the Marachi people.
Despite these challenges, the Marachi community has preserved its rich cultural heritage and customs. They continue to maintain their traditional practices, ceremonies, and social systems, passing them down from generation to generation. The Marachi people take pride in their history and ancestral roots, which have been woven into the fabric of their daily lives.
In contemporary times, the Marachi community continues to play an active role in the socio-economic development of their region and the broader Kenyan society. They contribute to various sectors such as agriculture, trade, education, and politics. Additionally, they celebrate their cultural festivals, ensuring that their identity and traditions remain intact.
As the world continues to progress, the Marachi community faces both opportunities and challenges. Modernization, globalization, and technology have brought new possibilities for growth, communication, and education. Simultaneously, they also grapple with preserving their unique culture and identity amidst the rapid changes of the 21st century.
In conclusion, the history of the Marachi community is a tale of resilience, unity, and adaptation. From their origins as a conglomeration of clans under Ng'ono Mwami's leadership to the challenges brought about by colonialism, the Marachi people have persisted and flourished. Today, they stand as an integral part of Kenya's diverse cultural tapestry, contributing to the country's vibrant heritage.