National Museums Of Kenya
Kenya has a rich historical, cultural and natural heritage found around the country. In Western Kenya, we have abundance in the little known attractions that we will explore here today. Come visit the Western heritage circuit and learn all about the rich heritage tourist attractions that awaits you. This is a sample of some of the attractions.
Kisumu Museum
Located in Kisumu town, along the Kisumu-Kericho highway, the museum exhibits the rich cultural and historical heritage of the Western region. Live exhibits within the compound include reptiles and amphibians found in the natural environment of this region. A display of a traditional Luo homestead gives visitors a peek into the traditional cultural lifestyle of the people in this region.
Historical Sites
Thimlich Ohinga Archaelogical Site
In western Kenya, there are a number of old villages and settlement sites marked by dry stone walling, a characteristic of unique architecture. These settlements are referred to locally as ‘Ohingni’, a name that connotes an idea of a refuge in the wilderness. The ‘Ohingni’ literally refers to a “frightening dense forest” in Dholuo language. A total of 138 sites exist. While the uphill stone structures have survived the vagaries of weather, the ones on the lower side have been degraded. The stone structure enclosure has walls ranging from 1.0 to 4.2 meters in height and 1.0 to 3.0 m in width, were built of loose stones and blocks without any dressing or mortar.
Within the structures are interior partitions of various kinds including: small enclosures, depressions and corridors. These were used as either as cattle kraals, pens for smaller animals or garden fence structures. Archaeological record of materials found within the site goes beyond 500 years ago. Since the present inhabitants of the area arrived about three centuries ago, it seems most likely that Bantus who initially occupied this region prior to Abundant rocks on the hilly areas provided them with building materials to meet their security requirements.
Kit Mikayi
This is a rock formation about 40 meters high located about 29 km west of Kisumu town. Legend has it that, Kit Mikayi, which in Luo dialect means “the stone of the first wife”: Long time ago, there was an old man by the name Ngeso who was in great love with the stone. Every day when he woke up in the morning, he could walk into the cave inside the stone and stay there the whole day, and this could force his wife to bring him breakfast and lunch every day. The old man became passionately in love with this stone to the extent that when people asked his wife his whereabouts, she would answer that he has gone to his first wife (Mikayi) hence the stone of the first wife (Kit Mikayi).
An explanation of the shape of this unique stone is that the structure represents the Luo cultural polygamous family which had the first wife’s house (Mikayi) built further in between on the right hand side was the second wife’s house (Nyachira) while the third wife’s house (Reru) was built on the left hand side of the homestead. This rock also is seen to have a nuclear family whereby the father (Ngeso) being the middle stone followed by the bulky Mikayi (first wife), then Nyachira (second wife) followed by Reru (third wife) and further in front they have the child which is representing Simba (which is the house for the first born boy in the homestead). From a long time, this stone has been a sacred place for the villagers to worship, and continues to be used to-date.
Simbi Nyaima
Simbi Nyaima means the village that sank. Simbi Nyaima is actually a crater lake a few kilometers from the shores of Lake Victoria. The Luo attach great importance to the site because of the legendary story. It is said that the people of Simbi were celebrating their success at the chief’s home. An old woman appeared at the scene looking for shelter and food. But the chief threatened to beat her up if she stayed. She was forced to leave and one lady sympathized with her and gave her food and a warm bath. She advised the kind lady to leave the village with all her children and husband. No sooner had they left than a heavy storm swept the whole village and it sank. The locals believe it happened in the olden days.
Rock Art Paintings (Mfangano-Rusina Islands)
Mfangano Island is known for its ancient rock art, possibly 2,000 years old and thought to have been created by early forager-hunters, the
Twa people. The Twa people, also known as Batwa or pygmies, have been described as the forgotten tribe who live in the Great Lakes region of Africa. Three sites on Mfangano Island have legends attached to them; one or even two of the sites are still in use. The art in the sites comprises almost solely of sets of concentric circles in two or all three of the colours red, white and black. The paintings are typical of what is sometimes termed “Twa” art that stretches from northern Kenya in a broadening trail southwards to spread across Africa from Northern Mozambique to Angola, and to cease north of the Zambezi River.
The islands are also a bird watcher’s paradise. The Abasuba Community Peace Museum is also one of the must see attractions. The museum has a beautiful community centre, museum gallery and a communal library.
Ikhonga Murwi -Crying Stone
This Mother Nature’s marvel stone is seen to be “crying” all the time, even in dry season. Found along the Kakamega-Kisumu highway this historical monument is associated with good harvest by the inhabitants of this region.
Songhor
The 78 acre site is a Miocene site dating back to 19 million years ago, with evidence of a large variety of animals living here. The fossil hominoids collected from this site range from small to bigger apes. There is enough evidence that the Proconsul Africans lived at this site and so far eight species of hominids have been identified.
Article by: Juliana Ruto, PRO, National Museums of Kenya
Email: publicrelations@museums.or.ke