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Hilarious Origin of Names of Towns and Locations in Kenya
Rank: Elder Joined: 3/29/2011 Posts: 2,242
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@McR, Fanua pia meaning za huko strongholds- Karachuonyo, Aleo Kusonga, Uliri,Bondo "Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least." Goethe
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 11/9/2009 Posts: 2,003
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majimaji wrote:
Ruiru town named after Ruiru river (black river), named so because of the rivers dark waters due to iron and manganese minerals from the source area
I also heard a different one. On the night before the boys went to become men, they walked from their homes to this river to deep themselves. Since they always arrive late night, the river always looked dark thus Rui Ruiru.
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Rank: User Joined: 8/15/2013 Posts: 13,237 Location: Vacuum
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1.Kapsabet....Its kwa Elizabeth(Elizabeth's place) in kale kap is kwa and since you know kales pronounce Elizabeth as elisabet they called the place kapsabet 2.Kaptana---Kwa turner(turner's place) Ikolomani---Gold mine in luhya kuna chida ya matamchi Gold mine=Kold mine 3.Kakamega-Kakamega was used to describe how the mzungus used to cut ugali(kakamega-Kamekata) mega is to cut while kaka is to refer to a small person 4.Chavakali:Is a women things in luhya(it was a women market) 5.Bungoma:engoma(drums) 6.Emuhaya:Aim higher:A mzungu who used to run a friends church used to encourage the kids to aim higher so they would go around telling otherr kids to emuhaya If Obiero did it, Who Am I?
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 11/9/2009 Posts: 2,003
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Am wrote:radio wrote:Lolest! wrote:Ruaka is named from the nearby river Ruaka, in full Rui Rwa Aka or the women's river. Women traders would freshen up at that river after a day's biz How come its almost an abomination now to use the name Muka or Aka? @Radio. Urbanization. You and I don't but It still happens Huko Uccha. Others are names like Nyukwa yet Thoguo is accepted.
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 11/29/2007 Posts: 948
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Wakanyugi wrote:Ituramiro = the story I have heard, is it is at the of a steep hill. Hence 'kukaa vibaya'
The people of Kirinyaga/Embu are the Luo's of Central province - thus the penchant to Anglicize names like, Difatha's, Kutus, Runyenjes, Siakago etc
Karatina - from the Muratina tree, one used to stand where the market now is.
Ndenderu is a slippery place.
Many of the names in the northern part of the Nyeri Valley and Nyandarua are from Maasai, specifically Samburu, who occupied the area before the Maa civil war. Thus names like Nyeri, Mweiga, Ol Kalou, Nyahururu, Maragema, Njororoko etc
While we are at it, who can tell me where the following names came from:
- Gatina, Rodkopany, Padpieri, Iveti, Gathatia ng'ondu  what about "gathuki mundu" in mukurwe-ini and "tari nduiku" (must be in Kiambu)
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 5/11/2010 Posts: 918
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wanyuru wrote:Wakanyugi wrote:Ituramiro = the story I have heard, is it is at the of a steep hill. Hence 'kukaa vibaya'
The people of Kirinyaga/Embu are the Luo's of Central province - thus the penchant to Anglicize names like, Difatha's, Kutus, Runyenjes, Siakago etc
Karatina - from the Muratina tree, one used to stand where the market now is.
Ndenderu is a slippery place.
Many of the names in the northern part of the Nyeri Valley and Nyandarua are from Maasai, specifically Samburu, who occupied the area before the Maa civil war. Thus names like Nyeri, Mweiga, Ol Kalou, Nyahururu, Maragema, Njororoko etc
While we are at it, who can tell me where the following names came from:
- Gatina, Rodkopany, Padpieri, Iveti, Gathatia ng'ondu what about "gathuki mundu" in mukurwe-ini and "tari nduiku" (must be in Kiambu) I read in Wangari Maathai's Unbowed that Nyahururu was so named by the Kikuyu after the tall water fall there. The water falls hururururururu hence Nya hururu. Sounds plausible to me. That was before a self important Mzungu known as Joseph Thompson showed up there much later and decided he had discovered the thing. He named it after his father. Learn first to treat your time as you would your money, then treat your money as you do your time.
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 5/11/2010 Posts: 918
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Swenani wrote:1.Kapsabet....Its kwa Elizabeth(Elizabeth's place) in kale kap is kwa and since you know kales pronounce Elizabeth as elisabet they called the place kapsabet
2.Kaptana---Kwa turner(turner's place)
Ikolomani---Gold mine in luhya kuna chida ya matamchi Gold mine=Kold mine
3.Kakamega-Kakamega was used to describe how the mzungus used to cut ugali(kakamega-Kamekata) mega is to cut while kaka is to refer to a small person
4.Chavakali:Is a women things in luhya(it was a women market)
5.Bungoma:engoma(drums)
6.Emuhaya:Aim higher:A mzungu who used to run a friends church used to encourage the kids to aim higher so they would go around telling otherr kids to emuhaya Aim higher = Emuhaya!!! Learn first to treat your time as you would your money, then treat your money as you do your time.
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Rank: Elder Joined: 3/18/2011 Posts: 12,069 Location: Kianjokoma
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Gathige wrote:Lolest! wrote:harrydre wrote:Lolest! wrote:The weirdest is Ituramiro. I hear it's in Gatundu. I heard the explanation like 10yrs back nikachangaa spit it! some woman was selling uji hapo and was in the 'turama' sitting position. Akina magigi wa huko were regular customers. @Lolest, Uji is likely to be sold on an "inama" position and not "turama". Among the Ameru, it is a taboo for a man to go to the kitchen while his mother is in there. The reason is, she may sit vibaya and that could cause lack of respect
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Rank: Elder Joined: 10/1/2009 Posts: 2,436
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Gatina Kanungaga - Kawangware.
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Rank: Member Joined: 11/12/2007 Posts: 391
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seppuku wrote:Swenani wrote:1.Kapsabet....Its kwa Elizabeth(Elizabeth's place) in kale kap is kwa and since you know kales pronounce Elizabeth as elisabet they called the place kapsabet
2.Kaptana---Kwa turner(turner's place)
Ikolomani---Gold mine in luhya kuna chida ya matamchi Gold mine=Kold mine
3.Kakamega-Kakamega was used to describe how the mzungus used to cut ugali(kakamega-Kamekata) mega is to cut while kaka is to refer to a small person
4.Chavakali:Is a women things in luhya(it was a women market)
5.Bungoma:engoma(drums)
6.Emuhaya:Aim higher:A mzungu who used to run a friends church used to encourage the kids to aim higher so they would go around telling otherr kids to emuhaya Aim higher = Emuhaya!!! hahaa..Isikuti nayo? Age is transforming me into an Elder;becoz Admin hasn't made me one.
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Rank: User Joined: 8/15/2013 Posts: 13,237 Location: Vacuum
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MADE wrote:seppuku wrote:Swenani wrote:1.Kapsabet....Its kwa Elizabeth(Elizabeth's place) in kale kap is kwa and since you know kales pronounce Elizabeth as elisabet they called the place kapsabet
2.Kaptana---Kwa turner(turner's place)
Ikolomani---Gold mine in luhya kuna chida ya matamchi Gold mine=Kold mine
3.Kakamega-Kakamega was used to describe how the mzungus used to cut ugali(kakamega-Kamekata) mega is to cut while kaka is to refer to a small person
4.Chavakali:Is a women things in luhya(it was a women market)
5.Bungoma:engoma(drums)
6.Emuhaya:Aim higher:A mzungu who used to run a friends church used to encourage the kids to aim higher so they would go around telling otherr kids to emuhaya Aim higher = Emuhaya!!! hahaa..Isikuti nayo? Isikuti=Its good Luhya's were entertaining a mzungu with the using the isikuti,when they finished the mzungu said its good.The luhya's thought the mzungu named the thing isikuti(its good) If Obiero did it, Who Am I?
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Rank: Elder Joined: 10/23/2009 Posts: 2,375
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Swenani wrote:MADE wrote:seppuku wrote:Swenani wrote:1.Kapsabet....Its kwa Elizabeth(Elizabeth's place) in kale kap is kwa and since you know kales pronounce Elizabeth as elisabet they called the place kapsabet
2.Kaptana---Kwa turner(turner's place)
Ikolomani---Gold mine in luhya kuna chida ya matamchi Gold mine=Kold mine
3.Kakamega-Kakamega was used to describe how the mzungus used to cut ugali(kakamega-Kamekata) mega is to cut while kaka is to refer to a small person
4.Chavakali:Is a women things in luhya(it was a women market)
5.Bungoma:engoma(drums)
6.Emuhaya:Aim higher:A mzungu who used to run a friends church used to encourage the kids to aim higher so they would go around telling otherr kids to emuhaya Aim higher = Emuhaya!!! hahaa..Isikuti nayo? Isikuti=Its good Luhya's were entertaining a mzungu with the using the isikuti,when they finished the mzungu said its good.The luhya's thought the mzungu named the thing isikuti(its good) my favorite It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt...
-Mark Twain
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Rank: Member Joined: 3/14/2012 Posts: 577 Location: Nairobi Kenya
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very interesting. what of githunguri, juja, gatunguru, ihururu ... Before I die - i will touch the sky!!
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Rank: Elder Joined: 1/17/2013 Posts: 4,693 Location: Earth
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Ihururu,-eagles mob (mahuru) Warufaga(elburgon)-potatoes were given that last name zikimwagika they would roll in all directions. Kangumbiri- A place where they jailed people & after serving the jail term,white pple would say...u can go free! lmao. Karindundu.... a village in Mathira where there were many owls Kiangoma- madeemoni place Mathakwai-ini- place has many trees with big leaves Ndumanu- lots of darkness that you can't see anything.. Kiangwaci-lots of sweetpotatoes Kiaruhiu-where everybody was buying pangas to farm Kamunyaka_ guys must be lucky Ndugamano~ People landed while standing.
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Rank: Elder Joined: 3/29/2011 Posts: 2,242
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kysse wrote:Ihururu,-eagles mob (mahuru) Warufaga(elburgon)-potatoes were given that last name zikimwagika they would roll in all directions. Kangumbiri- A place where they jailed people & after serving the jail term,white pple would say...u can go free! lmao. Karindundu.... a village in Mathira where there were many owls Kiangoma- madeemoni place Mathakwai-ini- place has many trees with big leaves Ndumanu- lots of darkness that you can't see anything.. Kiangwaci-lots of sweetpotatoes Kiaruhiu-where everybody was buying pangas to farm Kamunyaka_ guys must be lucky Ndugamano~ People landed while standing. Ndugamano~ People landed while standing.[/quote] This might give some pple ideas on other matters. "Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least." Goethe
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Rank: Elder Joined: 3/18/2011 Posts: 12,069 Location: Kianjokoma
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There's a place na huko Dagoretti gishagi wanaita Mai-a-ihii
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Rank: Elder Joined: 1/17/2013 Posts: 4,693 Location: Earth
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 7/3/2007 Posts: 1,634
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Lolest! wrote:@wakanyugi, Siakago is Sia Aka Ago as @rankaz has explained. I thought Karatina is corruption for quarantine?....Frere Town was named after Robert Frere, a missionary. Thanks. Karatina is named after the Muratina tree. But of course Kariakoor, Kahuka ka Mburi, Kirigiti, Thogoto are corruptions of Carrier corps, Kipkarbus, Cricket and Scotland respectively. "The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth." (Niels Bohr)
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 7/3/2007 Posts: 1,634
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kysse wrote:
Ndugamano~ People landed while standing. Wee wacha usitubring'ie! Ati people landed when standing "The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth." (Niels Bohr)
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Rank: Member Joined: 8/27/2012 Posts: 136
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Wakanyugi wrote:Ituramiro = the story I have heard, is it is at the of a steep hill. Hence 'kukaa vibaya'
The people of Kirinyaga/Embu are the Luo's of Central province - thus the penchant to Anglicize names like, Difatha's, Kutus, Runyenjes, Siakago etc
Karatina - from the Muratina tree, one used to stand where the market now is.
Ndenderu is a slippery place.
Many of the names in the northern part of the Nyeri Valley and Nyandarua are from Maasai, specifically Samburu, who occupied the area before the Maa civil war. Thus names like Nyeri, Mweiga, Ol Kalou, Nyahururu, Maragema, Njororoko etc
While we are at it, who can tell me where the following names came from:
- Gatina, Rodkopany, Padpieri, Iveti, Gathatia ng'ondu  the Samburu, though Maa speakers, are a different entity to the Maasai, the section that was annihilated was the Ilaikipiak clan which was very powerful but warlike and quarrelsome, apparently the remnants of this clan were assimilated particularly by the Nyeri Kikuyu (hence their famed 'meaness') and to lesser extent some Ameru clans
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