Every place has a story behind it and its naming, the same being the case in Luo Nyanza.
Here are some of the places in Nyanza whose names were derived from funny occurrences and reasons.
1.Migori
Migori Town got its name in a rather funny way. Then heavily infested with mosquitoes (Suna in dholuo) during its in-habitation by members of the Luo community, the people repeatedly complained of the troublesome insects.
And as they tried to fight them off and kill the ones that settled on their bodies they would complain ‘’Ka suna mi’ igori (here mosquitoes will make you hit yourself),’’ hence the name Migori.
Suna region in the county was also named as a result of the insects.
2. Kisumu
Kisumu, Kenya’s third city is predominantly inhabited by members of the Luo community and as well lies within the former Nyanza province.
It was initially a trading center before it was renamed to Port Florence upon the arrival of the British.
It derives its name from the word ‘Kisuma’ which translates to farm and harvest left overs, and was therefore a place where people went to exchange their products.
It with time became Kisumu, but remains ‘Kisumo’ to Luos.
3. Gem
Gem falls under Siaya County according to modern day boundaries.
Reports indicate that the place was the last in Siaya to be inhabited, hence the name Gem which means ‘wild’ in Dholuo as it remained a wilderness as the surrounding places became cleared for human activities.
#historynow