King Mumia II opposes Echesa's appointment

Peter Nabongo Mumia ll speaks at Nabongo Cultural Centre on June 6, 2023. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Peter Nabongo Mumia ll, the traditional king of Wanga community in Kakamega County, has moved to assert his authority after a section of elders installed former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa as the community spokesperson without the ruler’s consent.

King Peter Mumia ll went about his routine work at Eshiembekho shrine located along the Mumias-Busia road in Matungu Constituency.

The shrine, also known as Nabongo Cultural Centre, has great reverence and is managed by Wanga Council of Elders.

It is here the remains of the community’s traditional kings were laid to rest including the kingdom founder Nabongo Mumia l.

Mr Peter Mumia II, who took over from his father King Shitawa in 1978, has been reduced to a ceremonial lord with a crop of new leaders threatening his position.

Recently, a group of elders installed Mr Echesa as spokesperson of the Abashitsetse clan. The king hails from the same clan.

This prompted the king to assert his authority, warning individuals out to cause divisions and confusion in the kingdom comprising at least 22 clans to cease immediately.

Echesa’s elevation to champion the community’s political and development interests has sparked a heated debate, murmurs and speculations as the two are from the predominant Abashitsetse clan.

Some locals believe Echesa could be out to overthrow Peter Mumia ll, who should be the overall leader and spokesperson of the community.

However, the king on Tuesday through his council of elders denounced the installation of Echesa, terming the move as misleading and insubordination to the Wanga community. 

The elders warned Echesa against meddling in the affairs and roles of the king. 

“We are speaking as Nabongo Council of Elders to denounce and disassociate in any way with the misleading announcement that was made whereby Echesa was purportedly installed as spokesperson of the Abashitsetse sub-clan where our King hails.

“There is no way we can have a spokesperson from the king’s clan and yet the king is still alive and conducting his royal function as that amounts to insubordination,” said Ali Wamanya, Secretary General of the Nabongo Council of Elders.

They stated that the cultural installation ceremony that was conducted by a section of elders from the Abashitsetse clan could only be done by the council of elders of the Wanga Kingdom with the blessings of the King.

“What happened is a big embarrassment that went against the established rules and regulations that govern our Kingdom and the community,” said Wamanya.

The elders said Echesa ought to have presented a report to the King for deliberation with his Council.

Ezra Luta, Chairman of the Nabongo Council of Elders, said the Council will deliberate and give direction on the next move, and urged the Luhya community to ignore the Echesa’s installation.

Echesa was installed on April 1 in a ceremony conducted by Joseph Ndombera, chairman of the Abashitsetse clan, who stated that Echesa’s installation does not in any way affect the roles of Peter Mumia II.