Tiriki

Tiriki ise one of sixteen sub tribes or dialects off the Abaluyia people of Western Kenya. The word Tiriki is also used to refer to their geographical location in Hamisi Division, Vihiga County, in the Western province of Kenya. Hamisi constituency is one of the longest in Kenya stretching from Gambogi to Cheptulu.^[1]

Administrative[]

Tiriki is located in the Republic of Kenya in Vihiga County. Vihiga County is one of the five counties that formed the former Western Province. The other counties in the former Western Province are Kakamega (which Vihiga was previously a part of), Bungoma, and Busia. Trans Nzoia county is located in the former Rift Valley but has a majority Abaluyia population. Nandi County in the former Rift Valley province also has a sizable but minority Abaluyia population.

The name Hamisi refers to Hamisi Division or sub-county of Vihiga county which is overseen by a District Officer. The name Hamisi also refers to Hamisi constituency which is represented in the Kenya National Assembly by a Member of Parliament. The name Hamisi also refers to the Administrative Capital of Hamisi Constituency where majority of government offices in the Division are located. The name Hamisi itself was derived from a trader who run a shop in the area from the early days of colonialism. The typical way the Tiriki refer to Hamisi is "Wa-Hamisi" which means the place of Hamisi.

Tiriki location is just under 40 kilometers long running southwest to north east. It is roughly shaped like a dumbbell. About 5km wide in the south west, less than 2km wide in the centre, and 8km wide in the north east.

The total land areas is about 110km square of which about 30km square comprises of Kaimosi forest.

Latitude, Longitude, and Altitude[]

Tiriki lies at a Latitude of 0.09 degrees North and a Longitude of 34.85 degrees East. The average altitude is 1740m or 5709 ft above sea level.

Weather[]

Daily temperatures average a low of 12 degrees centigrade (58 degrees Fahrenheit) and a high of 24 degrees Centigrade (72 degrees Fahrenheit) meaning the weather is very pleasant and mild. Rainfall ranges from a low of about 1.5 inches ( 4cm) in February to a high of about 5 inches (12 cm) in October. October and April have over 20 days of rainfall. January and February average about 10 days of rainfall.

Tiriki mask

Tiriki clans[]

Tiriki clans include Vikhava, Valukhova, Vakhadiri, Vahaliero, Vajisinde, Vaumbo, Vashitsungu, Vamavi, Vamiluha, Valukhombe, Vadura, Vamayudu, Vamuli, Vasamia, Varimbuli, Vavuga, Vasaniaga, Vanyonji, Vamoiya, Vamasese and Vasuba. ('Walking with Joel' - The Mwanzi Dynasty)) We also have the Bamahalia clan.^[2]

Tirikis live in proximity with the Maragoli , Nandi, Luo, Banyore and the Idakho, their fellow Luhya tribes and hence the similarities with three clans of the Maragoli i.e. Vakizungu, Vamavi and Vasaniaga. Among all of the Luyha tribes, the Tiriki are particularly famous for their circumcision ceremonies with elaborate masks and body paint akin to Luhyas of Kabras in Malava (or Terik of the Nandi tribe) held in forests around in Western and parts of Trans-Nzoia province.

The Tiriki speak Ludiriji (more widely referred to Lutirichi or Tiriki, according to Ethnologue^[3]) and occupy the area North of Hamisi District in localities like Wamisi (Hamisi), Shamakhokho, Lwandon, Erusui, Esenende (home of Senende Boys High School), Igavinjari, Igavsotichi, Ichitinda, Muhudu, Musunji, Kaptisi, Ibumbo, Ishiru, Tindinyo, Gamalenga, and the border town of Seremi which borders Aldai (Nandi); Rift Valley Province.

Kaimosi[]

Kaimosi Mission, which is surrounded by Tiriki land, was the first Christian mission to be established in Western Kenya province in 1902. It became the principal centre of Friends work in East Africa.

Today the Kaimosi Mission hosts the NCCK Jumuia Friends Hospital which was formerly Kaimosi Hospital. It also hosts a campus of Masinde Muliro university. It hosts the Friends Theological College, Kaimosi Teachers College, Kaimosi Girls High School, and Kaimosi Friends Primary School.

Notable Persons[]

Daudi Kabaka, Kenya's most famous musician.
Cyrus Jirongo, the founding Secretary General of Youth for Kanu 92
Philip Kisia, Nairobi Town Clerk.
Johnston Kavuludi, Chairman of the National Police Service Commission.
Cliff Mukulu, founder of Rentworks
Adema Sangale, CEO of Proctor and Gamble East Africa
Justice Daniel Anganyanga, Judge of the Court of Appeal
Professor George Godia, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education
James Simani, Ambassador to China
Meshack Igobua, Headmaster Upper Hill School
Ambassador Charles Amira
Patricia Amira, Media personality and communication specialist

References[]

^[4] ^[5] ^[6] ^[7]

^ "History & Culture - Vihiga County". vihiga.go.ke. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
^ "History & Culture - Vihiga County". vihiga.go.ke. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
^ "Luidakho-Luisukha-Lutirichi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-10-02. Retrieved 2010-06-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "KAIMOSI CONNECTION 18" (PDF). Firstfriendswhittier.org. January 2006. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-01-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "Circumcision". YouTube. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2017.

External links[]

[1] "History & Culture - Vihiga County". vihiga.go.ke. Retrieved 2020-05-28.

[2] "History & Culture - Vihiga County". vihiga.go.ke. Retrieved 2020-05-26.

[3] "Luidakho-Luisukha-Lutirichi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2019-07-17.

[4] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-10-02. Retrieved 2010-06-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[5] "KAIMOSI CONNECTION 18" (PDF). Firstfriendswhittier.org. January 2006. Retrieved 28 August 2017.

[6] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-01-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[7] "Circumcision". YouTube. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2017.

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