- PART 1: Remembering Chetambe War – Lumboka To Chetambe, Resisting Nabongo Mumia, The Legend Of Wakoli The Freedom Fighter and Chetambe Ifile The Great Tachoni Warrior
- PART 1A: Remembering Chetambe War – The First Battle Of Lumboka
- PART 1B: The Heroics Of Freedom Fighter Wakoli khwa Mukisu At The Battle Of Mukhweya – Remembering Chetambe War
- PART 1C: Shujaas Of Lumboka War -Honoring Shujaa Lyambila, Shujaa Maina and His Sons, and The 400 Bukusu Freedom Fighters Who Shed Their Blood – REMEMBERING CHETAMBE WAR
- PART 1D: Shujaa Chetambe Ifile, The Fort And The Legend Of Bukusu Freedom Fighter Who Bullets Couldn’t Stop – Remembering Chetambe War
- PART 1E: The Human Cost- Chetambe War Casualties, Fate Of Freedom Fighters Wakoli Khwa Mukisu and Chetambe Ifile
Our account today in the this third installment of part one of our three part series honoring the memory of the heroes of Chetambe war focuses on the heroes, shujaas of the Lumboka war. Therefore, we will remain marooned on the story of the brave fight by shujaa Maina and his two sons. The selfless act by Lyambila. Not forgetting the faceless, nameless 400 Bukusu freedom fighters whose life and blood soaks the earth upon which today we seek to thrive.
Those who were kids when the world descended on the descendants of Mwambu and Sela remember being told of the story of a momentous morning. That morning, round about 9 o’clock, during the rainy season of March-May in 1895 hell descended. The world in all its military power crossed River Sio and marched over the old battle ground of Mukhweya towards coordinates 0°25’5″ N 34°29’E.
After the heroics of the Wakoli khwa Mukisu led army when the colonialists attempted forceful disarmament of the Bukusu, things had quieted down. In the proverbial sense of the clam before the storm, the enemy of BaBukusu had been quietly mobilizing. As a result, that morning, an army of not less than 1200 Sudanese, Baganda, Bakhayo, Bawanga, Uasin Gishu Maasai mercenaries and their British and Swahili marched towards Lumboka.
Lumboka War: The Siege
With losses from the battle of Mukhweya and frequent clashes with Nabongo Mumia, BaBukusu ranks had suffered irreplaceable losses in men. Therefore, the Bukusu were not only out numbered in men, but also in the number of guns. Moments before 1 o’clock, the shelling begun.
One gun got its chance. Then another bigger gun got its chance against the the stout logs and thick mud walls of Olukhoba lwa Lumboka. Still, the fort’s held on for what seemed to be eternity for the Europeans and their army. Behind the walls, Bukusu warriors lay in wait. Armed to the tooth, they faced no option but to resist. At around 1 o’clock the main gate gave way and the enemy tried to storm Lumboka fort.
Heroes Of Lumboka War
It is on record that even with the gate of the fort breached, under the command of Wakoli, the world with all its firepower still couldn’t wrest control of the fort of Chetambe. Brave Bukusu warriors gallantly defended their women, children, property, land and freedoms. They fought with nothing but spears and the little guns they had. In spite of the siege, you’ll be glad to learn that our heroes Bukusu held their position until darkness fell. This was despite better tactics from the enemy.
One account has it that on realizing that the Bukusu center held on despite breaching the front gate of Lumboka fort, the enemy split into two. One force made up of the Sudanese contingent engaged the Bukusu at the front. The other group led by the British generals attacked the Western gate. Nonetheless, it was no easy ride as they once again had to deal with a solid rebuff from our fallen heroes.
(For tactical details on this second battle of Lumboka, and other battles mentioned here, the reader is asked to look forward to part two of the series.)
Under the cover of darkness, the enemy having suffered loss of half of their army, tired. Taking advantage of the cover of darkness and taking stock of their weakened position, the surviving Bukusu retreated. Through the back gates and by climbing over the walls, they headed towards Chetambe.
That said, alongside two freedom fighters identified only as sons of Maina of the Balwonja clan, 400 of our warriors excluding women and children, were killed. The enemy’s superior firepower of artillery from machine guns, rifles and maxim guns proved too much an advantage.
The Bukusu Resistance At Sibale Fort
Buoyed on by their relative success part of the Maasai contingent attempted an attack on Sibale fort. There, they were repelled by gunfire from Bukusu warriors. Nonetheless, houses at Sibale were torched by fire from burning arrows fired in by the Maasai. Once again, those at Sibale abandoned their positions seeking to regroup at Chetambe.
Wakoli Kwa Mukisu at Lumboka War
As we learned in the previous installment, the legendary Bukusu freedom fighter Wakoli khwa Mukisu led his people in this first part of the Bukusu resistance. One modern account of this resistance with great imagery deviates with other accounts on Wakoli’s role in the Lumboka war. This account has it that it is in this battle that Wakoli slayed Namisi and Okwara wa Tindi. It offers:
Wakoli peeping through sibili (hole in the fort) realized that among the first attackers were Okwara (his shooting trainer) and Namisi (formerly head of Swahili home). Tables had turned; a student up against the teacher… the hunter, turned the hunted. Bullets rained, spears zoomed. Death smelled in the air. Using Lyambila (Omuyaya by clan) as a human shelter, Wakoli through the V-space between his arms took down Namisi slicing through his hipbone. Seconds later, he aimed and got Okwara-wa-Tindi in the ankle. There and then, the over-sharpened machetes of Bukusu warriors cut Okwara into pieces.
However (to use again the imagery of this account) Wakoli, as the Bukusu say: wenyokhela kumukhono kumukhasi. Meaning he had woken with the unlucky hand.
All said, the victory of darkness in the Lumboka war passed one message loud and clear. Bukusu land was no longer safe. The scorched-earth campaign that followed only proved the obvious. It was time to run and hopefully fight another day. Next, we will be meeting the heroes of Chetambe. Of course, the most infamous of these freedom fighters is Chetambe Ifile, the Tachoni warrior leader.
Dislaimer
This account is likely to differ from the many other accounts of the events of interest. There might even be deviations in the description of characters. Precise flagging of dates and time may also occur. The challenge faced by the 19th century East African historian of a lack of proper records in one not easy to navigate. Moreover, as stated at the introductory piece to this series, one of our aims is to make this effort of remembrance of our heroes as digestible to the reader as can be. To this end, we often opt for convergence in accounts of the events as a key measure of validity. Moreover, we also frequently elect to highlight nuances from different accounts. As stated, our primary sources will be listed at the end of the series for your further reading.
