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The
origin of the Sengwer community is believed to be Egypt and more precisely
a place called ‘Rokos’. They then came through Sudan along river Nile
in company of other Nilotes and moved to Mount Elgon. All the other
Nilotes moved leaving behind the Kony at Mount Elgon. The Sengwer moved
Eastwards and settled in the area of the Cherangany Hills. |
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The
first Sengwer member to settle at the Cherangany hills was called Sengwer.
This man was blessed to get two sons: Sirikwa and Mitia. When they were
grown up, Sirikwa occupied the plains of Kapchepkoilel while Mitia
occupied the highlands. They founded their families there and gave birth
to the Sengwer community. |
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Mitia had six sons (Kamesieu, Kaplema, Kamengetiony, Kipsirat, Kapteteke and Kapsormei) while Sirikwa had 7 sons (Kimarich, Ka-sango, Kapcherop, Kaptogom, Kapumpo, Kapchepar and Kapchepororwo). The names of the sons of Sirikwa and Mitia form the names of the sub-tribes which still exist today within the Sengwer community. The culture, tradition and language were the same for all the sub-tribes, but each sub-tribe had its own portion of land running from the plains of Kapchepkoilel to the highlands, although this changed with the arrival of the white-settlers. But the remembrance of the sub-tribes who occupied a certain portion of land is still there because villages are called after these sub-tribes. |