Names are powerful, and in recent decades, a name like Moraa isn’t just one of power and authority, but one that reminds Kenyans of Moraa wa Ng’iti, one of the legendary shujaas from the mid 1800s.
Moraa’s date of birth isn’t exactly known but there is an estimation that it was around the mid to late 1800s. She was of the Kitutu clan of the Abagusii tribe, and back in those days men and women had their respective roles and each person was required to adhere to them. Men were the protectors of homes and land, while women tended farms and nurtured children. Women were forbidden to talk before men and young girls were taught as much. This was custom. Moraa was however cut from a different cloth. A humble girl, she grew into a brave and wise young woman, gaining repute as a prophetess. She married Ng’iti, a reputed Gusii healer, and became Moraa wa Ng’iti.
Even with her transition to a wife, Moraa remained outspoken and further made herself known as an activist. She was the one who told the Gusii leaders that one of their clan’s men an elder by the name Ombati would betray the Kisii.
When the white men settled and set up mission stations with churches, dispensaries and schools in the southern Lake region in western Kenya, the Abagusii remained steadfast on their cultural practices; but then the colonialists came and wanted to force them away from their land, to this they resisted. They had fierce warriors, were familiar with the lands and had seers and prophetess Moraa, this gave them a slight advantage over the British.
In 1900, Ombati visited Kisumu and saw the British instruct on the construction of a railway line. This visit spurred something in him, a desire for power perhaps, and he allied with the British and helped them acquire Gusii land. It isn’t known if Ombati got the alliship he so desired, but it is known that he died an unfortunate death that resulted in a Kisii proverb coined to caution others. The proverb: Chaga osire buna Ombati aasirete, which translates to ‘die the same way Ombati died.’
With time, some Abagusii elders and chiefs collaborated with the British, but not Moraa. She remained relentless and incited her people to revolt. Sadly, in 1905, the British soldiers led by Geoffrey Northcote killed hundreds of Kisii, burned their homes, seized livestock, and destroyed their farms. But as you may now know, Moraa was a fearless woman. She urged her nephew, a warrior called Otenyo Nyamantere to lead an attack against the British. The attack was a success, but Northcote demanded for a man-hunt for Otenyo. When they found him, he was sentenced to death, and after this Moraa was marked next. The Kisii collaborators gave away her whereabouts, and when she was arrested, she was tortured for days, but her unwavering spirit didn’t let her renounce her resistance.
Viva Moraa wa Ng’iti. May many more daughters be named in memory of your brazeness.