THE STORY OF NYAMGONDHO WUOD OMBARE

Mai the son of Ombare was popularly known as [Nyamgondho Wuod Ombare in Luo]. He lived between the late 14th and 15th centuries on the shores of Lake Victoria in the present day Nyandiwa Village, Gwassi Location, Suba District, Kenya.

He was a member of the Waturi tribe [Bantus] who migrated to Tanganyika [Tanzania] in the 18th century. The other Bantu tribes in Gwassi Location by then included the Wategi, Wagonjo, Wasio and Wagire. Most members of these Bantu tribes also migrated to Tanganyika, leaving only a few behind. The Luos who lived in Gwassi location at the time also migrated and settled in the present day Kamagambo location.

Nyamgondho came from a very poor family of fishermen and was himself a very poor but God-fearing fisherman. The fishermen including Nyamgondho used to set fish traps [called Mgondho in Luo] every evening. One early morning when Nyamgondho went to check his traps he found a strange woman in one of his traps. This frightened Nyamgondho but the woman told him not to be scared and asked him to take her to his home and light a fire for her to warm herself. When they were leaving for home the woman asked Nyamgondho to take a long her goat, which she had left in a nearby mass of floating vegetation on which she and her goat had drifted for a long time.

Nyamgondho was very good to the woman who later agreed to marry him. Nyamgondho continued to work very hard and through the good luck brought by his new wife and her goat began to accumulate riches, including large herds of goats, sheep and cattle. As his wealth increased over the years, Nyamgondho not only married more wives but also began frequenting drinking places and drunk heavily. Nyamgondho’s first wife did not oppose his new marriages or heavy drinking but admonished him never to abuse her now, show contempt towards her just because he had fetched her from the lake. Nyamgondho’s first wife was popularly known as Nyar Migodho [meaning the daughter of Migodho] in reference to the fish trap in which she was found. Mai, her husband also became popularly known as Nyamgondho.

Nyamgondho often came home late at night from his drinking sprees and abused his wives .One night he returned home late and very drunk and found all his wives had locked their doors. No wife opened the door for him, his many calls for them to open the door for him notwithstanding. He ignored the early warning and the promise he had made and told his first wife that even the woman he fetched from the lake could not open the door for him. The harsh words upset his wife who nevertheless opened the door for him but decided to take revenge.

The following morning the cows became wild making it impossible for Nyamgondho to milk them. Nyamgondho’s first wife told him she had decided to return with all her wealth to Lake Victoria and that he would be as poor as he used to be before they met. She took her walking stick, smoking pipe and a few personal belongings. She then called out the rest of Nyamgondho’s family and all the animals Nyamgondho had had to join her on her return journey to the Lake. The rest of Nyamgondho’s family and all the herds of goat, sheep and cattle as well as birds followed her.

When Nyamgondho saw all he had possessed valued streaming to the lake, he followed them and tried in vain to stop them. As his first wife and the animals disappeared into the deep waters in Lake Victoria, Nyamgondho felt the pain of his total loss, stood on the water’s edge, rested his chin on his walking stick and was mysteriously transformed into a tree. To this day one can still see the footprints of Nyamgondho’s family and the animals entering the lake and the tree into which Nyamgondho was transformed.

Where Nyamgondho’s first wife came from remains unknown to this day but legend has it that she was a goddess. She is believed to be same woman who performed many other supernatural acts on the shores of Lake Victoria, including the sinking Simbi Nyaima in Rachuonyo District [Kendu Bay]. If so, then her name should probably be Anyango Nyar Gwassi [Anyango the daughter of Gwassi].

The story of Nyamgondho has interesting parallels to the Biblical story of Lot’s wife. Both stories portray people who disobeyed God’s directives because of their love for material wealth and were punished by death while looking in the direction where their wealth lay. Moreover, the destruction of Simbi Nyaima was due to the immorality of its people bears close resemblance to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Biblical times.

"For the Birds"
Located close to Kendu Bay town, Lake Simbi is a tiny Crater Lake measuring about one kilometre in radius. Both Lake Simbi and adjacent Odango sites support a substantial bird population that includes flamingos, little grebes, little egrets and Egyptian geese, making it a haven for bird watchers.

 
Overview
Key features
L. Simbi is a small alkaline crater lake of volcanic origin with no known inlet and outlet
Population:250,000 with the basin having 325 individual.
Soil: Volcanic alluvial, clay and black cotton
Vegetation: Acacia-balanties-combretum-striga weed
Birdlife: Flamingoes, little grebe, little egret, Egyptian goose
Land use: Agriculture
Due to its high alkalinity the lake is not used for drinking and has no fish.
Natural medicine as the water treats skin diseases.
Mining of salt by the locals from the lake.
Provides opportunity for recreation activities.
Personal well being and the water is used by a local church as source of blessing and it is believed to have supernatural powers.
Provide education for the local community due to the story of the lake origin
Bird watching as the lake is known for bird life.
*Storyline Overview:*
Simbi Nyaima is a rather miraculous lake found in Karachuonyo, Homa Bay county.

The lake measuring about 1 kilometer in radius has no known inlet or outlet and has since turned into a bird attraction, and is home to a wide variety of birds.

Though geologists argue that it is a volcanic lake, residents and the entire Luo community have a completely different narrative and explanation, as to them, according to stories passed down from their parents and grandparents, it was actually a punishment.

According to them, it's origin can be traced back to many years ago and according to Luo ancient stories, the entire place was a village before it sunk, hence the name 'Simbi Nyaima', the village that sunk in dholuo.

It is claimed that an old miraculous woman, the very same one involved in the story of Nyamgondo Nyombare, sought refuge in the village and when she was turned back, she destroyed it with a terrible storm that saw the entire area submerged.

She had walked into a feast at the chief's home but was denied food but one woman sympathized with her, nursed and gave her a warm bath.

The old woman advised her host to leave the village alongside all her children and belongings and the next day, the village was no more.

Villagers also believe that Simbi water is miraculous and is good for a wide range of ailments, including skin problems, with another myth indicating that its impossible to throw a stone into the lake.

The woman in question is also believed to have conducted other miracles around the lake region.

Luanda Magere Site and Grave
KisumuAttractions

Folklore of the Luo peoples of Kenya speaks of a mighty warrior known as Lwanda Magere . He was born in the year 1720 to Abonyo Wuod Omolo and mother Nyabera.His mother died during his birth and was therefore taken care of by his grandmother Rapondi. His father died in one of the numerous wars with their Nandi neighbours when Magere was barely a teenager. He belonged to the Sidho clan in Kano, in the shores of the Lake Victoria. The Sidho clan occupies the present sugar belt at the foot of the Nandi escarpment. He was possessed of unearthly powers, and his flesh was made of stone. Arrows, spears and clubs simply deflected from his body, making him invincible during war. He was famously known for his capability to tear an entire army apart alone.
-Luanda Magere was a Luo warrior, believed to be made of stone. Nobody could kill him. When war broke out between the Luo and Kipsigis tribes, Luanda killed many Kipsigis.

Luanda Magere Site and Grave is along the Nyando River.

The Kipsigis came up with a strategy to understand where his immense powers, secret to life and immortal nature comes from. They thus decided to give Luanda a woman from the Kipsigis tribe to marry.

The woman learned the secret of Luanda’s life when he fell sick and asked his wife to treat his shadow.

When fighting broke out again between the two warring tribes, the woman told her community the secret of his life. A warrior threw a spear into Luanda’s shadow, killing him.

Luanda turned into a stone, which still lies on the spot. It is believed by hunters around this place that if you sharpen a spear on the rock, you can make a kill easily.

This story is compared with the biblical story of Samson and Delilah.