By MN Reporter (As gleaned from social media
The Kanyamkago people are primarily situated in the South Lake Region, inhabiting the area of Migori where they form part of the most significant and influential groups.
Precisely, Jo-Kanyamkago constitute the largest cultural group in Rapogi and Uriri districts.
And they are also known by many other names including Kamoth (not to be confused with the Kamot), Ramoth or Okago-Ramoth, the names derived from their progenitor Moth.
However, the adopted name, ‘Kanyamkago (those of forked arrows)’, is said to have been as a result of their art and science of fighting clan battles.
Jo-Kanyamkago met clan rooted wars in Uyoma with staunch hostility and savagery, armed with folk-like arrows. And they allied to the Kabwayi clan of Nyarongi District in their southward migrations and conquests.
The Kanyamkago cultural group belong to a large group of Joka Jok peoples mainly in the Kajulu cluster, and thus making them ancestrally related to the Jo-Kajulu, Jo-Kamageta, Jo-Kanyidoto, Jo-Kagan, Jo-Kamot etc.
As a matter of, there is a sub-clan of Jo-Kanyamkago called Kajulu, and notably the inhabitants of Kambogo Division or West Kanyamkago in Rapogi, which is part of a cluster of related lineages commonly called the Kajulu people. And likewise, a few sources have been trying to argue that the Kajulu clan of Kisumu East District is a splinter group of the Kajulu sub-clan of Jo-Kanyamkago.
However, what is clear is that the Kajulu of Kanyamkago can be the subset of the Kajulu clan of Kisumu East because Kajulu is a blanket term that refers to several closely related groups of people that are scattered mostly in various parts of South Lake Region. Indeed, the term, “Kajulu,” reflects a macro-cultural community.
The larger Kajulu group consists of Kajulu clan, but includes a number of related peoples such as the Kamenya/Kanyaluo, Kanyamkago, Kisumo, groups in Mumbo/Kabondo and even in Rangwe etc. Kanyamkago is classified as a part of the Joka Jok family, and with origins in a geographic region between the Asembo Bay and Yimbo.
They were highly influenced by the Sakwa group, or Kawango, but not to the point of assimilation. And their first contact with Joka Chwanya was in South Nyanza, and thus their history of migration into South Nyanza was not greatly adulterated by traditions of the latter.
Then again Jo-Kanyamkago are also considered Jo-Uyoma, i. e. the descendants of Owila (Jo-Uyoma), but this is misleading since the Kanyamkago line were only there as an adopted family.
Today the three sub-clans of Kawere, Kajulu and Katieno constitute the Luo clan of Kanyamkago. These sub-clans in Uriri District are found in large numbers mainly in Uriri Divisions, extending into Rapogi. However, Oyani Division of Uriri has conglomeration of other petty Luo settler immigrants.
The Kanyamkago are closely related through kinship to people in surrounding areas such as the Komenya. It is given in the traditions that the ancestral father of Jo-Kanyamkago people, Moth, was son to *Konya. And Konya was son to Ramogi, and his lineages are basically comprised of the Joka Jok groups and the Jo-Sakwa people which is misleading. And besides, traditions have it that Konya and his sister Mbija (whose people are linked with the Kamagambo clan, i. e. of Girango origin) were the only surviving children of Awandu—the wife of Ramogi Ajwang who is portrayed as a troubled woman.
Jo-Kanyamkago launched several attacks against the Waondo and Kamreri, and fought many wars against the Konyango people.
According to traditions, they landed at Mirunda after crossing the gulf and then sojourned among the Kanyamwa people, but later moved to Nyandiwa in Gwassi country when the war broke between them and the Kanyamwa people.
However, they had to move again from Nyandiwa due to famine and settled among the Kadem, but war soon broke out between them and Kadem people, forcing them to abandon the place.
After leaving Kadem and settled among the Kabuoch people, a man by the name Ndisio was chosen as chieftain of the Kanyamkago people.
