Khayega Market
When you mention Khayega Market, the first thing that comes to
mind for most people who know the centre on the Kisumu-Kakamega highway
is bullfighting, thanks in no small part to Kakamega Senator Boni
Khalwale.
Located about seven kilometres east of
Kakamega Town, Khayega Market is a fast-growing urban centre, surrounded
by schools and other institutions, including the famous Mukumu Girls’
and Mukumu Boys high schools, Mukumu Catholic Church, Sigalagala
Technical Institute, Musingu High School and St Peter’s Seminary.
The
town is also surrounded by a number of tourist attractions, including
the famous 40-metre cultural and spiritual ancient crying stone of
Ilesi, Kakamega Forest which boasts more than 400 species of flora and
fauna, pottery items and River Okoha will also create employment,
revenue collection, youth enterprises, women/ Uwezo loans from trade,
factories to operate their business, improve security, electrification
of the market.
Khayega, which is predominantly
inhabited by the Isukha and Idakho sub-tribes of the Luhya, has a rich
cultural history, and nothing brings out the competitive spirit of these
two communities more than the age-old bull fighting.
And
in a land that fanatically supports AFC Leopards, football is also a
crowd puller, even if it just school or local leagues. There is a good
football ground with a smooth surface, which is used by school and other
teams.
The history of the ground dates back to the
1940s during the reign of Chief Jeremiah Sejero, who acquired it for
social activities. Isukha land proper starts at Khayega Market, the
centre of the Bisukha world. The market was originally known as Ikambi
was Milimu. However, the name was changed to Khayega by Paramount Chief
Sejero.
PASTURELAND
The
market started at Ikuywa wa Malaya, where there was a large field that
was used as pastureland by the surrounding communities, as well as for
wrestling and bull-fighting. During such events, traders would bring
merchandise to sell to the people. All these contributed to the centre’s
growth.
Meanwhile, Milimu Amayitsa had been appointed
Chief of Bisukha by Chief Nabongo Mumia after the First World War, and
the provincial commissioner for Kavirondo decided that eucalyptus trees
be planted at the site where the current chief’s office stands, which
thereafter became a works camp.
Chief Amayista
appointed Khayega Murula to supervise the tree planting, as well as the
killing of moles that were destroying the young eucalyptus trees.
That
is how the place earned the name Khayega’s camp (the Bisukha corrupted
it to Ikambi Wa Khayega). The prominent Khayega businessman, Henry
Malenya (now deceased), was the grandson of Khayega.
Khayega
centre developed rapidly into a major commercial, social and political
centre after the Second World War, becoming even more important after
the end of the war. Many of the traditional buildings with thatched
roofs were replaced with more modern ones made of bricks, and with
corrugated iron roofs.
Visitors would come here to
learn about Luhya cultural practices such us circumcision, isukuti
dancing, bull-fighting and would even be given information on medicinal
plants.
Notably, although Kakamega later developed and
became the hub of what was known as Western Province before the advent
of devolution, it never had any significance to Africans before
independence because it was a White man’s fort, a place known for the
humiliation and abuse for Africans.
According to
Makatiani, once completed, the market will become another satellite town
of Kakamega, and will increase revenue collection from Sh7.8 billion to
10 billion annually. Khayega with a population of over 40,000 people,
is the county’s third largest revenue source after Kakamega Town and
Mumias.
According Gatei Munika, a descendant of the
Khayega family, Khayega market offered the Bisukha and Bidakho an
opportunity for cultural self-expression, where they could also show off
aspects of Western culture they had learnt from the White man.
“You
know, even though Europeans taught our people a few things like
dressing well (wearing clothes and shoes), they would not tolerate an
African showing off in such attire,” he said.
Munika
says that, as a result, the market became something of a fashion
centre,especially on Sundays, which was also a major market day, where
well-dressed people could even find themselves partners.
MAJOR FACELIFT
But
the market, which has such a rich history, is to receive a major
facelift, thanks to the efforts of Isukha South Member of County
Assembly Herbert Sore Makatiani, who believes it is time to relocate it
and make it more modern.
The 85-year old centre of the
Abakakamega people of Ikolomani and Isukha was pulled down on the eve
of November 1, 2014 to facilitate the relocation of the market to a more
suitable location where it will attract more business and visitors,
given that it has become extremely popular thanks to the the publicity
given to bullfighting.
But despite Makatiani’s
well-intentioned plans, some people are not happy. Tension was high at
the centre during the ground breaking ceremony in May after traders
demanded to be compensated them for “their plots”, forcing the
organisers to relocate the function to the chief’s camp at the last
minute.
The Kakamega County government started the
long-awaited renovation amid fears that those opposed to the Sh80
million project would interfere with the establishement of structures
that are expected to change the face a centre that is fast growing into a
township.
Trouble has been brewing since the old
market was pulled down — amid protests — to facilitate the relocation of
the market. But traders who support the project are waiting expectantly
for its completion so that they can continue doing business after the
disruption.
Makatiani, to whom the market a pet
project, is eagerly awaiting its completion because it will be a dream
come true. During the groundbreaking ceremony, Makatiani, who was
flanked by MCAs from Kakamega East, likened the project to the birth of a
child.
“I have been pregnant for more than nine months
and I’m now ready to deliver. Don’t the women here remember the time
they really wanted a child? If there was no man to say, ‘I love you’,
would you have got one?”
Makatiani said the project
would also foster relations between the area’s different communities and
boost trade with urban centres like Vihiga, Kisumu, Busia, Bungoma and
Nandi counties, and consequently boost micro finance.
But even before the actual building began, the attendant changes of urbanisation realready being felt.
“Because of the upcoming market, the value of land has already gone up,
and the socio-economic status of the people will change drastically,”
Vincent M’muka, a businessman at the market said. A supporter of the new
market, M’muka added although the market has a rich heritage, it was
seriously run down.
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe
Oparanya, who was the chief guest, had to beef up his security after
rumours started doing the rounds that there would be trouble if he
showed up. However, everything went smoothly.
Oparanya
has blamed the delay in relocating the market on one of the MPs from the
region, saying the MP opposed it on the grounds that the traders had
not been given enough time to move, nore had they been offered an
alternative site to conduct their business.
Governor
Oparanya said, “Some people came to my office claiming ownership of the
plots in question armed only with allotment letters, which allowed them
to build temporary structures.”
RUN-DOWN MARKET
And
according to local chief Charles Ligabo Mwayuli, many found the old,
run-down market unsuitable for doing business, while the authorities
were felt that building a new market would be greatly beneficial to the
area.
Khayega Market has long been celebrated as the
meeting point in the former Western Province and its environs, having
served for years as a shopping haven.
According to Governor Oparanya, due to its popularity, more land will be required for further development.
Traders
and shoppers flock to the market, also known a meat market, to buy
fresh produce, while others to there to transactwholesale or retail
businesses.
The market specialises in food, and has
slaughter houses, with more than 30 butcheries selling hundreds of kilos
of meat daily, including to schools and the many neighbouring
institutions.
“With the new development, the market will be cleaner and more presentable, and will attract more visitors,” Oparanya said.
He
added that the shops that will be built to replace the buildings that
were demolished will have a proper drainage system, water and
electricity, upgraded fire and security systems, and toilets that are
easily accessible to people with disabilities.
The
market, also known for traditional delicacies such as dried and
conserved mushrooms, will now have modern stalls and food halls as
opposed to the open, flea market system that has been used for decades.
In the new set-up, customers will enjoy hassle-free shopping even during the rainy season, which is a challenge now.
A
few residents criticised the upcoming changes, saying the history of
the area would be forever lost. However, their attempts to stop the
demolitions failed after they were overruled by the court.
Also
concerned were sportsmen, who have raised concern regarding the
proposed move by the county government to re-locate second-hand clothes
traders and hawkers to the playing field to make way for the new market.
Speaking
on behalf of the residents, Moses Mulyolo, said the field should be
upgraded using devolved funds and not be interfered with in the
suggested manner.
And sports promoter George Muruli
said the area’s urbanisation should not interfere the production of
the future football stars.
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