Title: Luo Clans and Legends (Third edition)
By Felix O. Okatch, EBS
Reviewer: John Paschal Wanyama
Jaywanyama22@gmail.com

At an impressive 455 pages, author Felix Owaga Okatch’s seminal new book titled, Luo Clans and Legends, is a major contribution to the socio-cultural and anthropological development of a community that has and continues to play a significant role in Kenya and East Africa.

In this book, which is a comprehensive revision of the maiden copy that was launched several years ago, the author has included the southern Nyanza clans that had initially been omitted. He has also brought in more legends, enhancing the value of the tome that should become a key text in high schools and colleges, including universities in the country, the region, the continent and beyond.

A clever innovation to ease access to this well-researched material is the inclusion of electronic searches. Luo Clans and Legends is available on Google and on YouTube, whose link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEAV8jSlpWE. Also provided is a scan QR Code for convenience.

The millions of Luo-speaking people live in eastern Africa although like the members of other communities, many have migrated and settled in other continents while maintaining family, community and social links. They have generally similar dialects, identity and cultures, including an easy-to-adopt method of naming children.

Those who speak Dholuo dialect include the Acholi, Alur, Balanda Bor, Chope/Paluo, Gambella, JoPathola, Jonam, Jumjum, Jer Beli, Lwo, Maban, Pari and Shilluk. They are found in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

There is, indeed, a sizeable Luo community in Shirati in north western Tanzania. A famous Luo with Shirati roots is the legendary musician Daniel Owino Misiani, one of the Benga greats. His group was known as Shirati Jazz Band.

In Kenya, the Luo have a population of about 6 million (Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Census, 2019) and they are the dominant residents of the four counties of Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay and  Migori.

Who are the legends?

These are the persons who have over the years had a huge impact on lives of those around them. They include the following:

• Famous persons of their times and beyond;
• Those admired by many;
• Those who have left unforgettable impressions on their people;
• They continue to have extended influence in society;
• Their names are immortal and are talked about for years.

The past and present Luo legends from Alego include Ng’ong’a Kodima, Tawo Kogot, Ambrose Ofafa, after whom two key residential estates in Nairobi’s Eastlands were named,  Prof  T.R. Odhiambo Nandy, the founder of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE).

Alego Kogelo produced Barack Obama Senior, a Harvard University-trained economist. His son with an American woman, Barack Obama, who also studied law at Harvard, became the 44th President of the United States of America from 2009 to 2017.

Ugenya had the Reverend Alphayo Odongo Mango, the founder of the Roho Church, Chief Muganda Kokwako, Lala Kabanda, Nyawade, the son of Ojak, and many more.

Gem boasts Chief Odera Akang’o, who not only built roads before independence, but also promoted hygiene, tree-planting and education. Other chiefs included Odera Ulalo, Ndeda Ka Imbinda, Ogada and Jairo Owino.

Odera Akang’o, who was the headman credited with promoting education and building of roads in Gem, became a tragic hero. He was a strict disciplinarian remembered for getting a Whiteman flogged for visiting Gem without a letter of introduction from his boss in Kisumu. He would later be accused of rape and jailed in Kismayu, Somalia. He was transferred to a prison in Nairobi, where died shortly before his release in 1918.

This area also produced Mau Mau freedom lawyer Argwings Kodhek, one of Kenya’s first African advocates. He also became the first Member of Parliament for Gem Constituency. In academia, Gem boasts Professors David Wasawo, B.A. Ogot, and many others.

Bondo-Sakwa gave the country Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who became the first Vice-President when Kenya became a Republic in 1964, and his son, Raila Amolo Odinga, a former Prime Minister and opposition party ODM founding leader. Jaramogi was the most prominent son of Sakwa. His son, Raila, was a second liberation hero in the 1980s.

Yimbo/Kadimo had Chief Anam Osunga, and a prominent historian and university lecturer, Prof William Ochieng’, and many more.

From Uyoma came Ramogi Achieng Oneko, one of the Kapenguria Six (1952-1958), who was tried by the British colonial government for fighting for Kenya’s independence, freedom fighter Fanuel Odede and others. Oneko later became a Cabinet minister

Asembo gave the region Johana Owalo, who formed the Nomiya Church, Oracha Rambo, Akumu wuon Ocham, Osumba Nyambok and many more.

The founder of the Nomiya indigenous church, pioneer evangelist Johana Owalo, broke away from the Catholic Church to start his own in 1907. It became Nomiya Church in 1912. Prophet Owalo later clashed with Luo traditionalists over his endorsement of circumcision.

Kisumo legends included Seme’s Odongo Migele and Nyagudi son of Ogambi. It is also home to the famous stones of Kit Mikayi.

Kisumo’s Chief Ogada met and worked with British colonial administrator C.W. Hobley in the 1890s. Chief Ogola Wuod Ayieke is credited with helping to start Maseno School in 1906.

Other Luo legends are Melkio Ondeto and Gaudencia Aoko, who founded the Legio Maria evangelical church, the biggest splinter group from the Roman Catholic Church. Nyakach had Chief Kere Owuor.

In Homa Bay, Karachuonyo’s Paulo Mbuya started Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church at Gendia and served as the Chief from 1935 to 1946. He was awarded the Order of British Empire (OBE) by King George in 1946 during a victory party in London. He received another award in 1952, also in the UK. Other prominent Luos in this region were Chief Zephania Malit and Chief Gideon Magak, Paulo Inda and many others.

Hon Onyango Ayodo was the first university graduate from southern Nyanza and was among the first cabinet ministers in independent Kenya in 1963.

One of the greatest sons of the Suba/Abakunta /Bantus in southern Nyanza, Tom Mboya (1930-1969) was a trade unionist and freedom fighter, who later became a top Cabinet minister holding key portfolios in Mzee Kenyatta’s government. He was born and grew up in Kilima Mbogo, in Ukambani.

He was the Minister for Economic Planning when he was assassinated in Nairobi’s city centre on Saturday, July 5, 1969. Mboya was the man behind the airlifts that enabled many Kenyans to gain university education in the US. He crafted Kenya’s Sessional Paper No 10 for Economic Development of 1965.

Migori produced Mr Hezekiah Oyugi, a powerful Permanent Secretary under President Daniel arap Moi in the 1990s. In this region, there is Kanyamkago’s Thim Lich Ohinga, a UNESCO historical site just like Fort Jesus in Mombasa. Another prominent Luo from Karungu also in southern Nyanza, was Hon Joseph Odero Jowi who spearheaded the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Kenya.

During his research for this book, the author says he established the historical links between the Luo from Alego in the north to Karachuonyo at mid-point up to Kanyamkago, Kadem, Karungu in the south and other areas.

He also explores why many Luos, who are brave, educated and proud of their achievements, still remain deeply superstitious.

The Luo, since time immemorial, have interacted with other communities in Kenya and beyond and enriched their lives with the knowledge and experience gained on the social, economic and political fronts.

Every community is proud of its history, especially its origin, culture, language, and its socio-economic and political achievements made against great odds. Author Okatch chronicles these in this rich historical account which is also accompanied by plenty of pictures, artefacts and illustrations, making it an easy read for all generations. For non-Luo readers, there is a glossary of Luo words and phrases which are explained in English.

The author’s father, the late Peter Okatch, whose rural home was in Gem, was also a legend in his own right. He was a prominent trade unionist, who worked for East Africa Railways and Harbours in Nairobi and Kampala at different periods.

Also captured are the interactions of the Luo with neighbouring Luhya sub-tribes, especially Wanga, whose King Mumia Nabongo, exercised some control as an ally of the colonialists. Others are Abanyore and Kisa. The neighbours intermarried but also fought battles over land.

Nairobi’s Ofafa Maringo and Ofafa Jericho residential estates in the Eastlands were named after legend Ofafa, originally from Alego Kalkada, who was assassinated in Nairobi at the height of the Mau Mau uprising.

Ambrose Ofafa was shot dead on November 24, 1953, near the current City Stadium. By then he was the national treasurer of the Kenya African Union (KAU), the precursor to the Kenya African National Union (KANU), and the Nairobi City Council Finance and General Purposes Committee chairman.

The book contains Luo folklore and myths recited from generation to generation. The riveting anecdotes include the story of Nyamgondho the son of Ombare, Simbi Nyaima, Kit Mikayi and the naughty girls who turned into monkeys.

Gor Mahia, after whom the famous football club was named, and Luanda Magere, the fearless warrior from Kano are some of the community’s legends. It was believed Gor Okumu alias Gor Mahia son of Ogada, could hypnotise and cause people to mysteriously disappear, hence Gor Kogalo, the nickname of the victorious 1987 African Cup Winners’ football team.

Two Luo District Commissioners in the colonial era were Ezekiel Otieno Josiah who was the DC for Central Nyanza and Isaac Okwiri from Gem, who was the DC for Bondo in 1962.

Findings and conclusion

This book is for youth, Generation Zs, and millennials, who are keen to know their sub-clans and origins, as thanks to urbanisation, many of these young people have never had a chance to hear stories from their grandmothers in the villages. The stories about clans cut across Kenya and the world.

Author Okatch seeks to help preserve Luo cultural heritage, identity and the micro-analogy of the sub-clans. It covers many issues, which were not given adequate attention by earlier scholars.

It is an invaluable source of knowledge for Kenyans, Ugandans and Tanzanians and many of those living in the diaspora. It documents the history and socio-economic development of the Luo.

The book is available in leading bookshops in Kenya at Kshs.3,000 (USD.30) per copy.

Felix O. Okatch, EBS, the author of Luo Clans and Legends 2024
Tel: 254 721 735489 or 254 733 735489
Email: okatchfelix@gmail.com or okatchfelix@yahoo.com.