The Origins of the Wanga Kingdom

The origins of the Wanga Kingdom, as its entire history, belong to the migration and settlement of the ancestors of Abashitsetse. The standard version of the migrations and final settlement of Abashitsetse at Imanga begins near Kaimosi in Tiriki. Abashitsetse travelled and lived together with the Abalubakha clan of the Abatirichi. They may have wandered together with the other Luhya people from Egypt or West Africa into Buganda and Busoga; the Lake Victoria area in Kenya and as far as Naivasha and Kapsabet, before settling near Kaimosi by the middle of the 16th century. Muwanga later died and the generations of his sons Wamoyi and Muwanga II lived near Kaimosi for twenty years.

Muwanga II succeeded his father as the Nabongo. When he died, his younger son Wanga succeeded him, but the eldest son, Khabiakala, and half-brothers Wamoyi II and Mutende opposed it. This made Wanga migrate to Imanga in South Wanga between Mumias and Musanda The area was inhabited by Abamuima and Abamulembwa. Mumia Liyai ruled the two clans. The story goes that Wanga lived and worked for Muima, and that he disguised himself in order to hide his royalty because it was taboo for a royal member to work for another as a commoner. More>>>

Map of the Wanga Kingdom