The Kwa Dina Overpass Plugs in much needed juice to a once vibrant neighborhood in Webuye town

Vibrant during the heydays of Pan Paper, Webuye almost sunk under the weight of economic depression. The collapse of Pan Paper destroyed families, killed dreams and lead to early deaths. But a corner of it defiantly kept kicking on. Its pulse raced largely thanks to the entrepreneurial zest of a woman: Dina Nasiku Kibunguchy. It is in honor of her exploits that locals christened her HQs ‘Kwa Dina’.

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With construction of the Kwa Dina Webuye overpass, it looked like the dream was to die again. However, the exploits of women traders cut from the same cloth as Mrs. Dina Kibunguchy continue to serve as the heartbeat of Webuye’s economy. Their informal trade in farm produce under the shadow of the overpass that plugs in Webuye to global trade, is testament to a never die attitude. It’s the modern expression of an ingrained spirit to protect the agency of the collective. It’s the gallantry that was first manifest by the warriors of Chetambe.

WEBUYE: AN ACCIDENTAL EXISTENCE

It is often said that art imitates life. The story of Kwa Dina Webuye is not only emblematic of the struggle to survive for Western Kenya’s presumptive industrial town, but also serves as further evidence of this claim. The story of the rise again of Webuye and Kwa Dina after the collapse of its economic engine, The Pan African Paper Mills, is that told in the celebrated ballad Hero. We imagine that the people of Webuye can relate when Mariah Carey sings:

 And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you 

Indeed, today it is safe to say that the people of mulembe of Webuye – the Tachoni, Bukusu and other immigrant tribes – have weathered the storm. It’s a feat further exemplified with the thought that the beginning of the town that feeds, clothes and houses them was somewhat of an accident.

For all the hue and cry over the collapse of the Pan Paper Mills in Webuye, and the attendant dwindling of fortunes of Western Kenya’s tentative industrial town, everything about Webuye was an accident of sorts.

The Accident That Was The Battle Of Chetambe

The first accident has to be the mushrooming of Webuye town in precolonial times. Though Webuye like other Western Kenya towns was born of the railway constructed between 1896 to 1898 by colonial powers keen on exploiting the riches of the pearl of Africa Uganda, Broderick Falls as it was called, had a particularly bloody start.

The British desired for what they called Broderick Falls to offer refuge. They found the year-round amiable climate of Webuye an ideal rest. However, between 1894 and 1898, their imperial plans hit a roadblock. The accidental meeting of two cultures, one with ulterior motives, led to the battle of Chetambe.

At Chetambe within the vicinity of Webuye, gallant Bukusu warriors fought the British and their Sudanese mercenaries. Sadly the hundreds of Bukusu lives lost in the Chatembe massacre of 1895 was in vain. The gunpowder of the British prevailed. In the aftermath of it all, it must have appeared that all was set for a prosperous future for Webuye town. However, years later, another accident was to derail Webuye’s path to being the next Eldoret or Nakuru.

The Planning Accident That Gave Birth To Kwa Dina

Hemmed in by Chetambe hills at its head, and with the mighty Nzoia river clasping its torso on one side whilst also reaching for its buttocks, room for expansion of Webuye was always restricted. Further, by being situated just off the main trade route, the Northern Corridor, Webuye suffered a fate similar to that of Gilgil and Machakos. In addition, by being shy of the action at the Makutano – a junction of major roads- Webuye is weighed bown by the growth pains that continue to stifle Chavakali in Vihiga county.

Also, the construction of the Kaburengu- Kanduyi section of the Northern Corridor to pass “outside” Webuye somewhat disadvantaged the emerging town. This is because it forced would be patrons to take a detour in order to enjoy its facilities. As a result of this arrangement, Webuye could only sip on the juice of economic activity flowing along the busy Northern Corridor. However, as we shall see latter, where Webuye town failed to “eat”, the Kwa Dina area “ate” on its behalf.

Pan Paper The Accident

The third accident was a result of the lobbying of Bukusu political fathers from Kimilili namely: Mark Barasa, Elijah Mwangale and possibly Masinde Muliro. These fathers of Luhya politics wanted to “bring development”. Their noble vision was to situate a major industry, a paper mill, in Webuye. As a result of the nobility of their politics, sometime in 1969, smoke billowed from the chimneys of the complex that today straddles the Northern Corridor at the Webuye neighborhood of Sango.

Never mind that the forests that Pan Paper was to exploit lay tens of kilometers way. As far as Kakamega, Mt. Elgon, Elburgon and Timboroa. This point is to argue that by being so far away from the catchment area of its raw materials, Pan Paper failed to “take root”. Further to its detriment neither was the factory, by omission or commission, supported by needed public investments.

Potholes

Devoid of the necessary support Pan Paper failed to plug firmly into the global economy. As a result, the realization of its pan-African ambitions became a mirage. Moreover the lack of favorable public policy and legal infrastructure made this giant slow to adapting to modern realities and opportunities.

Remember, this was in the days before globalization had touched some parts of Africa in the ways it has today. The reasons to why Pan Paper failed are complex. But keeping with a narrow view on infrastructure, two things are apparent.

First, the infrastructure needed to support such an undertaking was rudimentary. Simply put, the Northern corridor was a shadow of what it promises to be now.

Secondly, the Kisumu-Kakamega-Webuye-Kitale highway, which the Kwa Dina Webuye overpass is part of, was a merely a streak of pot-holed narrow roads that chocked trade.

(Kindly note that today through the Kisumu-Ahero-Kisii-Isebania route, the Kwa Dina Webuye overpass is plugged into Northern Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda. Further, through the Kitale connection, The South Sudan market is now in sight.)

KWA DINA WEBUYE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ATE ITS MOTHER TOWN’S CAKE

Allow us to label the emergence of Kwa Dina an accident. We propose this view because many a times the most successful of entrepreneurs, in accounting for their exploits, often have a line item labelled ‘luck’ in their balance sheet. Some call this luck ‘timing’. Others talk of ‘showing up’ or simply ‘being in the right place’. Then there is the oft mentioned chance encounter with ‘a connect’ who plugged then into the juice.

All in all, the element of coincidental and accidental happenings beyond the control of these individuals is inexplicable. However, this is not to discount the role of their talents. Because devoid of their blood, sweat and tears the factors of production wouldn’t have found harmony for their own and society’s benefit. Therefore, we honor mama Dina Nasiku Kibunguchy with this befitting eulogy.

[Condolences to] Likuyani MP Enoch Wamalwa Kibunguchy, following the deaths of his beloved mother Mama Dina Nasiku Kibunguchy and his uncle Hillary Wafula (Dina’s brother) early this week, …. I have known Mama Dina for many years as an illustrious and development-minded lady. She established her business empire in Webuye town, leading to the naming of the area where she operated as ‘Kwa Dina’.

Raila Odinga in a statement condoling Likuyani MP Enoch Wamalwa Kibunguchy

KWA DINA, A MODERN ODE TO THE BUKUSU SAYING: AFWILE EBIKELE NE EMURWE BABANA BALIYO

What better honor to the fallen Mama Dina Kibunguchy? Which better way to tip our hats to the efforts of Elijah Mwangale, Masinde Muliro and co.? How about that for a comeback? From ruin and despair to cautious optimism. And what a toast this is to the heroes of Chetambe!

We say this because the Bukusu have a saying: Afwile ebikele ne emurwe babana baliyo. It means, his/her feet has died at his head children thrive. This Bukusu saying honors a man or woman who has toiled to raise fine men and women. One who even after their demise, their legacy lives on as only their feet die. Because their head, their children, carry on their legacy.

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