Ruler who collaborated with colonialists

By Standard Reporter

Wanga is a sub-tribe of the Luhya community and has close links with the one in Uganda.

Many believe the group migrated from Uganda, centuries ago.

When the British arrived in western Kenya in 1884, they found the Wanga Kingdom as the only organised state with a hereditary ruler, the Nabongo.

At the time, Nabongo Mumia Shiundu was in power. The colonial masters allowed the Nabongo to exercise his power.

To the Europeans, Mumia was a powerful man although he was not educated.

They believed once you got his blessings, you could travel to and from Uganda safely.

It was only Bishop James Hannington who crossed to Uganda, only to be butchered under the order of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda.

The Kabaka ordered the bishop’s body returned to Nabongo Mumia. He was buried near the Mumias Municipal Council offices.

Nabongo Mumia helped many explorers master the local terrains, through his guides.

Among the first Europeans to visit his Lureko home were Joseph Thompson (1883), Bishop Hannington (1885), FJ Jackson (1889) and C W Hobley.

Brave man

In his book on the experiences in East Africa, Hobley described Mumia as a brave and intelligent man.

Mumia died in 1949 and was succeeded by his son, Shitawa. The current Nabongo is Peter Mumia.

The Wanga live in Mumias District. Their neighbours to the north are Bukusu and Banyala. To the south are the Marama, to the east the Batsotso, to the west the Marachi and to the south-west, the Luo.