How the Tachoni Became Part of the Luhya Community

By Winnie Ng’ete, founder of Scalp Therapy Ltd, and also a Family and Intentional parenting advocate.

The Tachoni (meaning “We shall be back”) are Kalenjin who were assimilated by the Luhya people of western Kenya, sharing the land with the Bukusu tribe.

They live mainly in Webuye, Chetambe Hills, and Ndivisi in Bungoma County, as well as Matete and Lugari sub-counties in Kakamega County.

Most Tachoni clans living in Bungoma speak the Olutachoni dialect of the Luhya language and are subsequently often mistaken for Bukusus.

They spread to Trans-Nzoia County, especially around Kitale, and to Uasin Gishu County near Turbo and Eldoret.

Among the Tachoni clans are Abakobolo, Abamuongo, Abamarakalu, Abangachi, Abasang’alo, Abasamo, Abayumbu (mostly around Webuye), Abamuchembi, Abachambai, Abacharia, Abakabini, Abamakhuli, Abasioya, Abaabichu, Abamachina, Abamutama, Abakafusi, Abasonge, Abasaniaka, Abaabiya, Abakubwayi, Abamweya, and Abachimuluku. Note that the morpheme “aba” means “people.”

The Abakhusia/Abasamo of Kabras are also Tachonis who speak Kikabras.

Neighbouring Communities and Origins

The Tachoni mainly neighbour the Bukusu, Nandi, and Kabras speakers.

The other communities that form the Luhya sub-group are Banyala, Banyore, Batsotso, Idakho, Isukha, Kabras, Khayo, Kisa, Marachi, Marama, Samia, Tiriki, Maragoli, Bukusu, and Wanga.

There are many theories surrounding Tachoni history; some say that they were a product of inter-tribal marriages between the Bukusu and Bongomek, a Kalenjin tribe.

Another legend, according to Wolf in Were (1967), states that the Bukusu people intermarried in large numbers with the Kalenjin when they lived in Ebwai (Amukura) and Mwalie in Malakisi and, as a result, bore offspring (Yumbu) believed to be the ancestors of the Tachoni.

It is also believed that they originated from Egypt and settled in Bungoma, Trans-Nzoia, and Uasin Gishu, where they were masters at building forts such as Chetambe and Lumboka.

Community members trace their origin to Egypt. Due to their supposed place of origin, they believe they were initially related to the Nilotic groups but eventually changed after interacting with their Bantu neighbours.

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Connection to the Sabaot People

The Tachoni people believe that they are related to the Sabaot people of Mt. Elgon.

They hold the view that after they settled in Mt. Elgon, a group separated from the others and told them, “Ta cho nu,” which in Sabaot means that they were leaving but would come back.

Some researchers, such as Osogo in Lihraw (2010), and even community members believe that this is how the Tachoni people got their name.

This theory, however, is disputed by Lihraw (2010), who says that there is nothing that proves it apart from the fact that the two communities practiced both male and female circumcision.

Climate and Economic Activities

The area where the Tachoni people live experiences a tropical climate.

Bungoma County is temperate and wet most times of the year.

Kakamega County is hot and wet throughout the year, while Trans-Nzoia County is cool and temperate and receives rain mainly between the months of April and October.

It is important to note that the above counties border one another and, therefore, the weather conditions in the areas where the Tachoni live are not significantly different.

Due to the favourable weather conditions they experience, the Tachoni people practice mixed farming.

They grow maize, bananas, millet, and beans.

They also keep poultry, cattle, goats, and sheep for both subsistence and commercial purposes. Some also grow sugarcane as a cash crop, especially those who live around Webuye.

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Language and Classification

The Ethnologue refers to the Tachoni [lts] language as Lutachoni and states that it is related to the Kabras language.

The language is classified by Ethnologue as Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, and Masaba-Luhya.

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Winnie Ng’ete is the founder Scalp Therapy Ltd, and also a Family and Intentional parenting advocate. PHOTO/ Ng’ete FB