Many Kenyans are familiar with Mtito Andei, a town whose growth is attributed to its almost central position along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway. Popularly known as Mtito Raha, this town serves as a rest stop for travellers plying this route. Interestingly, its role as a stopover dates back to a time when long distance Akamba traders and Arabs used it as a barter station for ivory and slaves. Its name is derived from the Kamba term “mutitu wa ndei” which means “forest of vultures”, an acknowledgement of its harrowing past when slaves were often left for dead in its dense forests and vultures circled above to scavenge on their bodies.
Another town whose name has a dark meaning is Nanyuki. Located in the heart of Laikipia County, its name is derived from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nanyukie which means “the place of red waters” which many have simply translated to “river of blood”. Two theories about the meaning of this name exist. First is that a fierce battle between Maasai clans resulted in the death of many Morans and their blood turned the river waters red. Second is that the red-coloured soils of the region often wash into the river and give it a red hue, resulting in the phrase
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Nanyuki is certainly not the only town whose name is shrouded in legend. Kitui is a town whose claim to fame was through the iron-smithing skills of the Akamba settled in the area. The reputation of these tradesmen preceded them, leading to the naming of Kitui as “a place where iron goods are made”.
Maasai and Akamba names aside, one town in Eastern Kenya has a name derived from Kiswahili. The administrative capital of Makueni County, Wote town is named for the Kiswahili word that means “all”. It is said that during the colonial era, this small town was the command center for the District Officer and his office headquarters. Periodically, all area residents gathered from far and wide outside this office to receive instruction, leading to the name of the town.
While some town names speak to the history of the place, others are simply named after prominent people who lived in the area. Machakos is one such town; its name was adapted from the name of the Akamba seer Masaku who prophesied the coming of the British. The name was later corrupted to Machakos after Masaku’s prophecy had come to pass.
Marsabit is another town whose name has a similar etymology. The name is derived from the Amharic phrase “Marsa Beit” which means “Marsa’s home”. The town is believed to have been named after a benevolent farmer who once visited the location and ended up permanently settling on the slopes of Mount Marsabit. Isiolo town, on the other hand, is named after a village headman, Issa Olo who once lived in the region.
Sultan Hamud tops off this list with one of the most unexpected names of all. As the name intimates, the town was named after Sultan Ali Hamud who ruled Zanzibar from 1902 to 1911. As the railway was being constructed through this region, the Sultan visited the area to see the progress. His visit was commemorated by naming the town after him.
Comment and let us know what other towns in Eastern Kenya have interesting stories tied to their names!
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