The period between the 16th and 19th centuries saw the migration of many communities into present day Kenya, one of these being the Abaluhya. One guiding factor for the Abaluhya as they traversed the continent in search of a new home was the presence of a water body. This was a community of farmers, whose skill in making iron farm tools was legendized and whose stock of cattle was the picture of health. Their prosperity relied on their ability to till the land, and when they came across a massive river on the north east shores of a grand lake, they knew they had found home.
Rising from the mountain in the distance, this river carved its way through the hilly landscape before draining into the lake. The sediment that the swiftly flowing water deposited onto surrounding land made the soils so fertile; this truly was the perfect place for this community to settle.
Every home needs a name, not just any name but one with a concise meaning. As the Abaluhya set up around the river, they began to note its unique characteristics. They familiarized themselves with every part of this water body, and one of its outstanding features was the ferociousness of its waters. Down it came from the highlands with great speed, sharply bending this way and that, breaking its banks during the rainy season and claiming land that it did not normally occupy. Even during the dry season, the river was still a force to be reckoned with and could easily sweep away anything that dared to enter its path.
Enzoya, they named it, and everyone agreed. A name derived from the Luhya language. The root word, kuyoya, means to carry away in large quantities. After a few hundred years, the name was altered to Nzoia to better suit the British palate during the colonial era.
The strength of Enzoya remains visible to date, a force that has never been tamed. The waters surge through its riverbed with great intensity, regularly overflowing into surrounding lands and wreaking havoc on homes and businesses. About 3,721 million cubic metres of water course through its 257 kilometre stretch annually, making it the second biggest river in the country by discharge.
From Mount Elgon to Lake Victoria, the power of Enzoya can be felt. Its name is undeniably well suited to its nature but more importantly, it is a name bestowed by the community that put down roots close to its fertile banks.
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