Wasya Wa Mukamba is a quarterly newsletter published by Mbaitu Foundation Inc to showcase the beautiful side of Ukambani through Kamba people who are changemakers, culture, philanthropy in ukambani and association of kamba people in diaspora with their homeland. This is April's edition for 2021

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am the Archbishop of the ABC whose
headquarters for all our churches in
East, Central and Southern Africa is here
in Machakos town. I am also the current
chairman of the National Council of
Churches of Kenya (NCCK).
Tell us about your early education
and how you got to where you are
today.
I was born on 4th May 1954 in Vyulya
location in Masii, Machakos County.
After completing my primary school
education at Vyulya Primary School in
1972, I proceeded to Kinyui High School.
I worked as an untrained teacher in 1977
after finishing high school. A year later, I
joined the Bata Shoe Company as a
sales and marketing assistant and
worked for the company for eight years.
Having attained some work experience
and an understanding of how business
is run, I decided to venture into self-
employment. I opened shoe shops
called Kangundo Shoe Merchants and
Dolly Supplies (later changed to
Timasons) in Masii, which I co-managed
with my first wife, the late Dorothy
Mbula. The business was thriving and
we even purchased a matatu for public
service vehicle service. However,
mitumba (second-hand) trading
adversely affected my business,
nonetheless the business picked again
years later and it is now run by my sons.
In 1988, I joined Meru Teachers College
and graduated in 1990. I did my
bachelor’s degree in theology at St.
Paul’s University between 1993 and 1996.
I later did both my Master’s Degree and
PhD in Carey Theological College in
Canada and I graduated in 2016 with
my doctorate.
church is best established when
the shepherd of the flock is fully
invested in the best interests of the
congregants. This is exactly what
defines Archbishop Timothy
Ndambuki. You may have seen him in
the headlines, and perhaps on social
media speaking out on issues of
public interest. His voice never goes
unheard as a religious leader, and
therefore there is more to him than
just being in the pulpit.
Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki has
transformed the lives of many people
across the world and especially the
Kamba community. He has also
empowered women and young
people in his church by supporting
them in both their education and
business ventures. His humility is
indeed a display of a true man of God.
The Archbishop Ndambuki, author of
The Seed, a book that celebrates the
Akamba Christian heritage continues
to encourage the Akamba people in
the diaspora to invest in their
community. He has led by example by
establishing “Vyulya Revolution for
Food Safety,” an irrigation agribusiness
project that promotes organic farming
in Ukambani.
What challenges did you encounter
growing up?
Life at Kinyui High School was not easy. I
was constantly sent home due to school
fees arrears. From Form One to Form
Three, I had an understanding principal
who let me remain in school despite the
piling fees arrears. However, we got a new
principal who was strict about payment of
school fees. I remember one day, he called
me to his office and insisted that my
outstanding fee balance had to be paid.
There and then, he decided he had had
enough and I was sent home. later on after
sometime, the school caught fire. Though
the tragedy, it was a blessing in disguise.
The office burnt to the ground and all
records were lost including my fees arrears
records. I therefore, came back and
completed my studies. The tough
upbringing instilled in me the principle of
hard work and persistence. I knew I really
had to always go the extra mile, if I was
going to change the status quo at home
and everywhere.
WASYA WA MUKAMBA
W a D i a s p o r a
TRANSFORMING BODY
AND SOUL
ARCHBISHOPDR.
TIMOTHYNDAMBUKI
In This Issue:
Archbishop Dr. Timothy
Ndambuki - Page 1
A
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 >>>
Message From Mbaitu Foundation
Founders - Page 2
Ruth Mawia Mwanzia - Page 4
The Aombe Clan - Page 8
How Well Do You Know Your
Kikamba? - Page 3
A P R I L 2 0 2 1 V O L 1 , I S S U E 0 1
Retirees Turn Into The Sweet
Business of Bee Keeping - Page 6- 7
Nyumbani Village; A Home For
The Homeless - Page 5
P A G E 1
Archbishop Ndambuki gifts Mbaitu Foundation
crew his book,The Seed.
Archbishop Dr. Timothy Ndambuki
Wasya Wa Mukamba recently interviewed
Archbishop Ndambuki at the Africa Brotherhood
Church (ABC) headquarters in Machakos.
Archbishop Dr. Timothy Ndambuki with Mbaitu
Foundation crew, and his PA, Peter Johnson

2. Mwĩ aseo!
At Mbaitu Foundation, we believe that these individual efforts would
have an even greater impact if they were coordinated, and have inbuilt
accountability mechanisms to ensure that funds sent back home are
used for their intended purposes. As a philanthropic organization, we
are committed to providing a platform for sharing information and
collaborating with individuals and organizations interested in
transforming the lives of our community by enabling opportunities
through education, water development, improved healthcare, and
economic empowerment. When we work together we will be able to
serve the people of Ukambani better.
We invite you to subscribe to our quarterly newsletter, Wasya wa
Mukamba, that will showcase our work, as well as celebrate the
culture and achievements of our people. It is also a platform to tell our
stories and it will feature an array of outstanding Kamba thought
leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, professionals and academics, to inspire
and encourage us to make our contributions, big and small, to uplift
the most disadvantaged members of our community.
As we embark on this journey, we call on members of the Akamba
community living in Kenya and abroad, to join our efforts by
sponsoring projects, volunteering their services or products, or making
donations in cash or in kind.
You can get more information about the Mbaitu Foundation on our
website and social media platforms; Facebook , Instagram, Youtube,
and LinkedIn or write to us: info@mbaitufoundation.org
Video conferencing -- WhatsApp, FaceTime, Zoom, and
Skype -- have enabled most of us living abroad to stay closely
connected with family and friends back home in Kenya.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic we have been
calling, texting and having frequent video chats to find out
how our loved ones are coping with the “new normal.”
Moreover, many of us in the diaspora have had to dig deep
into our pockets to send M-pesa to help out family and
friends facing financial hardships after losing their jobs or
livelihoods; pay hospital bills for relatives who have
contracted the deadly virus; and sadly meet funeral
expenses for those who have died.
As the Kamba community, giving and helping the less
fortunate is deeply ingrained in our DNA. Even though we
live far away, we still maintain strong relationships with our
home by participating in numerous community
development projects including building schools, hospitals,
and churches. We have continued to create opportunities
and livelihoods by setting up small businesses for many who
would otherwise not be able to support themselves or their
families.
According to the Central Bank of Kenya, Kenyans in the
diaspora sent home USD 30.5 million (Sh. 30.5 billion) in
January 2021, despite the global economic impact of COVID-
19. This is an increase of 7.5% from January 2020 and
constitutes the single largest source of foreign exchange for
the country. In addition, the US is the largest source of
remittances to Kenya.
P A G E 2
Take us through your journey to the pulpit
I gave my life to Christ very early in my life. I was a Sunday school teacher at the age of 14 years. I was always engaged in church activities
but I did not know I would end up in full time ministry.
I have steadily risen through the church ranks over the years after I heeded God’s calling for full-time ministry in 1993 while at St. Paul’s
Theological Seminary. On completing my studies in 1996, I was posted to Kaiani Sub-Pastorate where I was ordained and became the
pastor in-charge, overseeing eight churches. I then served in various other churches including Kakuyuni sub-pastorate, and the Nairobi
Sub-Headquarters which covers the present day counties of Nairobi, some parts of Machakos, Kajiado and Nakuru. While in Nairobi, I was
involved in church growth in Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
I was consecrated and installed as the Bishop of the Africa Brotherhood Church on 15th April 2007. I believe that pastors should be
learned and therefore I keep encouraging them to further their studies. My wife is pursuing a PhD at the Catholic University and I finished
my e PhD in ministry in 2016.
What are some of the philanthropic activities the ABC is engaged in?
ABC has built over 350 primary schools, 75 secondary schools, three bible schools and the Eastern Kenya Integrated College (EKIC), which
started by training ABC pastors and teachers before as a Divinity School (DS). Now it is a full pledged Colleges offering many other courses.
We have churches for the deaf to accommodate individuals with hearing disabilities. We also care about the girl child, and run a multi-
purpose training center that trains girls and women on fashion and design. There are also institutions for the physically challenged in
Mbooni, Wamunyu, and Kangundo
MESSAGE FROM MBAITU FOUNDATION FOUNDERS
We look forward to having you on
board!
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 >>>
A P R I L 2 0 2 1 V O L 1 , I S S U E 0 1

3. What other initiatives is the ABC
involved in?
We have an ABC empowerment savings
and credit cooperative (Sacco) which has
a capital base of Ksh. 250 million. The
Sacco attracts membership from across
the world. For instance, there is a
member from Kansas, USA, who is
currently doing a construction project in
Narok.
We have dug a borehole and a Dam at
my farm in Vyulya to irrigate our farm
where we plant crops like cabbage,
carrots, sukuma wiki, and spinach. Our
aim is to establish food security in
Ukambani.
ABC owns a TV station known as Undugu
TV. ABC also owns two Buildings in
Machakos Central Business District
known as Imani Plaza I and II (the
Machakos Doctors Plaza) which hosts
fully equipped hospitals.
We have recently appointed a committee
to spearhead the acquisition of land in
the Konza Technopolis. The church will
hold a 30% interest and 70% will be
issued to the public. Therefore, Akamba
people in Kenya and in the diaspora can
invest with us in this venture.
Kenya is facing the third wave of
Covid-19, which is having
devastating effects. What is your
message to the Kamba people and
Kenyans at large?
It is true; the third wave of Covid-19 has
been extremely harsh. I urge all Kenyans
to be each other’s keeper. Let’s avoid
big gatherings and careless living. We
should all observe the ministry of health
laid down procedures as preventive
measures in keeping social distance,
washing hands and sanitizing. That is
being a ‘brothers’ keeper.
The Ministry of Education should also
look into keeping school going children
safe.
Your message to Mbaitu Founders
I am thankful to Mbaitu founders for the
noble initiatives they are engaged in.
For them to remember their families
here in Kenya, it means they have at
heart the interest of transforming
Ukambani. I share the same vision as
Mbaitu Foundation and I wish them the
very best.
If you would like to get a copy of his
book, The Seed, Akamba Christian
Heritage you can purchase it soon via
Amazon or send an email to
info@africabrotherhoodchurch.org
for details on how you can get a copy.
What do you do when you are not at the
pulpit?
I love reading and swimming for fitness and
relaxation.
Concerns on mental health have been on the
increase, what role is ABC playing to help its
congregants address the mental health
issues?
ABC church has employed a psychologist to assist
in counseling congregants on coping
mechanisms and ways to enhance mental health.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2>>>
P A G E 3
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW KIKAMBA?
Word to describe a sibling who is older than
you
A wet river valley traditionally used to grow
arrow roots and sugar cane
A brave man or woman
Another word for girl (not mwĩĩtu)
Word used by the elderly for one’s mother
To court a girl
An old man
To take an oath
A witch doctor
A traditional porridge made from finely
ground maize
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Nthimo: Philosophical statements used to
drive a point home
Akamba maasyaa Mbaa ngeeka meethĩiwe mataneka:
Translated literally, this means that the family of ngeeka (I
will) were found having done nothing.
Application: There are people who frequently make
promises that they never execute either because they
forget, or because they never intended to deliver on them,
yet time and time again, they make more promises.
Eventually they die or grow old having done none of the
things they kept saying they would do. This nthimo is
therefore used in conversations to challenge anyone who
makes a promise so that they do not take their
commitments or promises lightly.
Testing your knowledge and
understanding of Kĩĩkamba
ANSWERS ON PAGE 8>>>
The launch of Vyulya Revolution for Food Safety by Hon.
Kivutha Kibwana.
Archbishop displaying harvested cabbage from
the farm in Vyulya
A P R I L 2 0 2 1 V O L 1 , I S S U E 0 1

4. Ruth who comes from a family of entrepreneurs admits that the road to
entrepreneurship has not been easy. She acknowledges that women
entrepreneurs in Kenya face numerous hurdles including lack of access to
capital, stiff competition, and gender biases. She says has she faced
discrimination adding, “women’s voices should be well represented in the
manufacturing industry and more women should take up the challenge.”
A devout Christian, Ruth believes that success is not just about making
money and living a comfortable life and that entrepreneurs should pay it
forward by positively impacting the lives of people in their community. She
is an advocate for people with disabilities and has employed several
people with disabilities in her factory.
She is committed to creating jobs and opportunities for young people,
through mentorship, coaching, and consultancy. “I started the AfriBiz
Academy which is an entrepreneurship platform for young people starting
business,” she explains. “We help them find solutions to challenges that
every start-up faces such as market penetration, getting the first ten
customers, funding, just to name a few.”
Ruth is also very enthusiastic about making a difference back home in her
village in Kitui by increasing access to clean drinking water through drilling
boreholes, providing water bowsers and and setting up water points. Her
company is also partnering with local NGOs in activities to protect the
environment such as tree planting and rain water harvesting.
The future is bright for this happy, easy-going young entrepreneur who has
proved that young women can be just as successful in business as men. In
the coming years, Ruth plans to continue building and growing her brand.
“I would like Koola Waters to be a household name in Kenya and in the
whole eastern Africa region,” she adds.
Ruth sends her greetings to the Kamba people in diaspora and says, “when
you touch a person’s heart, no matter how small your contribution, God
will greatly bless you. Ukambani has a lot of potential and I am willing to
partner with you to explore the potential and make our home a better
place.”
RUTH MAWIA MWANZIA
After graduating in 2012, she searched for internship
opportunities in various media houses without success.
Instead she got an opening at Water Resources
Management Authority (WRMA) in the Public Relations
Department. Little did she know that this would be the start
of her journey to becoming an entrepreneur. “This
opportunity accorded me relevant experience which came
in handy in setting up and starting Koola Waters,” she
recalls.
Starting out her business in 2014 at age 25, Ruth had the
perfect recipe for success: the exposure at the water firm
coupled with her mass communication degree that helped
in marketing her bottled water in an extremely competitive
environment, dominated by multi-national companies such
as Coca Cola. Today Koola Waters, is certified by the Kenya
Bureau of Standard (KEBS) and sold in supermarkets, kiosks,
and food outlets in nine towns in Kenya. It is also available
online and through various distributors.
Initially though, Ruth had wanted to build a career in journalism, either as a radio or TV presenter. So she studied mass communication
majoring in electronic media at the African Nazarene University in Nairobi.
hile many women still choose to play it safe by owning
beauty and fashion businesses, Ruth Mawia Mwanzia, has
successfully ventured into the male dominated bottled water
business. At just 32 years old, she is the founder and
managing director of Koola Waters, a thriving Nairobi-based
business that specializes in manufacturing, distributing and
packaging purified drinking water.
Ruth says she was driven to the water business because of her
childhood experience growing up in her rural Kyondoni
village in Kitui County, a semi-arid region in eastern Kenya
that receives erratic and unreliable rainfall. Due to water
scarcity caused by frequent drought, women and girls are
forced to walk long distances under the scorching sun to
fetch clean drinking water.
"I would like Koola Waters to be a household name in
Kenya and in the whole eastern Africa region"
A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR
WITH A BIG HEART FOR HER
COMMUNITY
W
P A G E 4
Ruth Mawia Mwanzia
Ruth at her factory
A P R I L 2 0 2 1 V O L 1 , I S S U E 0 1

5. The village is made up of 100 homes. Each home has their own schedule for meals, time to wake up and time to go to bed. They even have
a cleaning schedule unique for each home. Their food is provided by the Nyumbani Village management every week and each family cooks
food of their choice.
There are primary schools, secondary schools and vocational training centers in the village. The vocational centers train the youth on
carpentry and metal works among other practical courses. The school has a medical lab and a clinic as well because a number of children
in the village are living with HIV/AIDS.
Nyumbani village is concerned about the education of the children. After students complete their KCSE exams, they are educated up to
tertiary level and helped to secure jobs after college. “Majority of these students are not living with AIDS but the few who have the virus, still
face stigmatization when released to the outside world when they are still on ARVs” says Sister Mary, and adds, “we try our best to make
sure they can sustain themselves.”
In 1991, Father Angelo D’Agostino was touched by the fate of such
children. “We had a unique idea of having a blended family where
we would invite grandparents left with biological grandchildren
and check into the family groups and make a family of about 10
children” says Sister Mary Owens.
The extended families to these children left them at the mercy of
their poor grandparents, due to stigma, fear and ignorance about
HIV/AIDS. This was a pitiful sight to behold and this is what gave
birth to the first ever Nyumbani facility establishment in Karen, in
Nairobi. They established a children’s home along Karen-Dagoretti
road for the children living with HIV who had been abandoned.
They took in many children and developed a further eight centers
in different parts of Kenya. Currently, they have 3000 children living
with HIV/AIDS and another 11,000 who are siblings to HIV infected
children. “Our main goal is to reach out to the two remnant
generations of the HIV/AIDS pandemic that is the grandparents
and their grandchildren” Sister Mary explains.
Nyumbani village is built on 1000 acres and runs several eco-
friendly projects. Each family has a space in their home for a
kitchen garden for planting vegetables. There are also greenhouses
to grow organic food for the families. As part of their sustainability
projects, they have planted indigenous trees on 578 acres.
n African society, one’s home village contributes to their identity
and gives them a sense of belonging. It is with this in mind that the
founders of Nyumbani Village, the late Father D’Agostino and Sister
Mary Owens established Nyumbani Village, located off Machakos-
Kitui Road, 14 km from Kwa Vonza shopping center, in Kitui County.
Unlike a typical village where one would typically find their kith
and kin down to several generations, Nyumbani Village was
established to house grand parents and their grandchildren
orphaned due to HIV/AIDS. Parents who died of the disease, left
their children with their destitute grandparents and Nyumbani
village took them in and made a home for them. This village is
therefore unique in that unlike other villages, it is neither an
orphanage or a children’s home.
Wasya Wa Mukamba recently had a candid conversation with
Sister Mary Owens, the co-founder of Nyumbani Village who she
shared the amazing story of the village.
“Majority of these students are not living with AIDS but the
few who have the virus, still face stigmatization when
released to the outside world when they are still on ARVs”
I
P A G E 5
NYUMBANI VILLAGE: A HOME FOR THE HOMELESS
PHILANTHROPY IN UKAMBANI
The alumni of Nyumbani Village
Top left: Sister Mary Owens addressing high school students, Top right: Students at
the metal works workshop
Bottom left: A grandmother harvesting vegetables from her kitchen garden,
Bottom right: Students at the computer lab
CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 >>>
A P R I L 2 0 2 1 V O L 1 , I S S U E 0 1

6. Tell me about yourself and how you started beekeeping?
rguably, the sweetest honey in Kenya comes from Ũkambani. The Akamba people have been keeping bees for generations and it is a
craft that they have mastered over the years. To know more about bees, sweet honey and everything beekeeping, I interviewed two
retirees, Albanus Mwania and Musyoka Kathutu from Machakos and Kitui counties respectively. Though two counties apart, they are on a
similar bee keeping mission.
But before we delve into the interview, did you know that bee venom is seven times more costly than gold? A gram of bee venom costs
$80. Interesting, right?
On to the interview!
RETIREES TURN TO THE SWEET BUSINESS
OF BEE KEEPING
I was born in 1968 in Mwala,
Machakos County. I went to school at
Ekalaasa Primary School and Masinga
Secondary School. I am a father of 5,
but sadly one of my children passed
away. I joined the army in 1987, where
I worked until I retired recently. I had
wanted to venture into this business
for many years. I believe that bees
bring good things into the world and
to the human race generally. In 2017,
an opportunity presented itself when
the Safaricom Foundation donated
48 modern bee hives to our group
called Kyenze.
Which bee keeping method between traditional and modern bee
keeping, do you prefer and why?
I practice both traditional and modern bee keeping methods. Both methods
are working for me. But I prefer the traditional bee hives because they produce
better quality honey compared to the modern ones. The modern bee hives get
overheated during hot seasons thus melting the honey. The melting causes
production of poor-quality honey.
What are the advantages of the traditional method?
Traditional bee hives produce very tasty honey but sometimes the quantity
produced from a single beehive is less compared to the modern ones.
What is the most interesting thing about bee keeping?
I get to have a hustle that keeps me busy now that I am retired. And bee
keeping does not require too much of my attention compared to other jobs. I
only need to prepare the bee hives when plants are flowering then I wait until
it is time to harvest the honey.
Apart from bee farming what other activities are
you involved in?
I farm green grams. I mainly depend on the rains and
the income has been good compared to the maize
farming. A kilo of green grams can fetch up to
Kshs.130, maize prices are really low, never going past
Ksh.50 per kilo.
Do you have a plan to pass on your bee keeping
skill to the next generation?
Definitely. Bee keeping is a great way of farming and
doing business. My last born is interested in both
farming and bee keeping.
Parting shot?
I am currently focusing on expanding my bee keeping
business by adding more traditional beehives in my
farm. If I can be supported with the bee hives it would
really boost my business.
A
P A G E 6
ALBANUS MWANIA
Albanus Mwania
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7. Apart from bee farming what other activities are you involved
in?
I grow vegetables like sukuma wiki and tomatoes, and also keep
chicken and turkey. For farming, I do not rely on rains; I do irrigation
using water from Kalundu river.
Do you have a plan to pass on your bee keeping skill to the next
generation?
I have a son who has been working with me in bee husbandry. I will
mentor him to be an excellent bee keeper in the same way my
father taught me!
Parting shot?
I am planning to acquire more traditional bee hives in order to
increase the honey production, to satisfy the high local demand. One
traditional beehive costs between Kshs. 3500 - 5000. Any support
accorded will be highly appreciated.
Which bee keeping method between traditional and
modern bee keeping, do you prefer and why?
I love the traditional method; It produces the sweetest
honey. In my farm I only keep traditional beehives (myatu).
What are the advantages of the traditional method?
Just as I had said earlier, for tasty and pure honey, the
traditional method is the way to go.
What is the most interesting thing about bee keeping?
Harvesting honey is an art. One should harvest only ripe
honey, which has less moisture content. This skill was
passed down to me by my father who was a passionate
bee keeper. If you harvest without being careful you could
produce poor quality honey. I provide water to my bees by
placing water filled buckets near the bee hives. Water helps
to regulate temperature inside the hive.
Tell me about yourself and how you started
beekeeping?
I was born in 1962 and raised in Katulani Sub-
county of Kĩtui County. I completed my primary
school learning at Kathunge Primary School. I
then joined Wĩkĩlĩlie Secondary School after
which I started working as a driver. I am now a
retired long-distance bus driver and I have had
the opportunity to work in over 9 countries in
Africa. While working as a driver, I kept bees as a
side hustle but upon retiring in 2017, I decided
to venture fully into the bee keeping business.
P A G E 7
MUSYOKA KATHUTU
“It is our joy is to see each young person grow up, get education, have a job, get married and start a family. All children are equal and none
of them deserves stigmatization despite their health and financial situations,” she notes.
Children who come out of Nyumbani Village have formed an alumni association headed by Patricia Mwende. They planned a visit in 2019
and hosted lunch for the whole village and brought gifted for the grandparents. It was an emotional and intimate interaction for the village
as people of their own came to visit. Everyone in the village gets thrilled when a visitor from Ukambani visits them because they can relate
in terms of environment and language.
To Mbaitu Foundation and the Kamba community in diaspora, these children are used to visitors from other parts of the world. It will make
a huge difference in their lives to see their fellow people from Ukambani visiting them.
Donations to Nyumbani Village can be made through their website https://www.nyumbani.org/ Due to Covid-19 regulations; they are not
taking in volunteers or allowing visitors. If you have a donation to offer in kind, you can leave it at the gate or contact them via
office@nyumbani.org
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 >>>
Musyoka Kathutu Traditional beehives belonging to Musyoka
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8. The Akamba have 14 major clans and about 11 sub-clans. The clans are of varying sizes and have diverse history and characteristics. The
major clans of the Akamba people include Akanga, Akitondo, Akitutu, Ambuani, Amwei, Amumui, Amutei, Aiini, Anziu, Asii,
Atangwa, Atwii, Aombe, and Eethanga. The minor clans include Akiimi Akuu, Amena, Amokavu, Amomone, Amomoi, Amuuti,
Anilo, Aoani, and Athonzo.
Clans are patrilineal and comprise of related families with a common ancestor. When a lineage reaches a certain size, usually three or
four generations, members are hived off to establish their own mbaa group. Traditionally, clan membership meant a number of things
to the Akamba. It was a means of mutual assistance where one could look for support through a difficulty from their kin. The clan also
played a judicial role, listening to and making decisions on issues of inheritance, land boundaries, marriage difficulties and settling of
communal and family differences. and decided punishment. The clan was headed by elder men referred to as atumĩa and a clan
meeting is known as ũmbano wa mbaĩ.
In this article, we focus on the Aombe Clan
ave you ever come cross an individual who is ludicrously
insistent on matters? Well, if the person was a mũũkamba,
then most likely they are from the Aombe clan. Just to paint
a picture of how preposterous they can be, according to
popular folklore, they dug a water well and eccentrically
added sugar to sweeten the water. Another legend has it
that, they carved wooden shorts that made them a laughing
stock among other clans. They also ate their own monkey
totem, perhaps during a famine. It is such traits that make
them to be viewed as reckless and unwise. On a positive note,
they are widely known for not giving up whenever they put
their mind to something.
KAMBA CLANS
The Aombe people are among the biggest clans in Ũkamba.
Therefore, they are not hard to come across. Historians place their
early settlement in Kilungu in Makueni county. Kamba folklore has it
that their ancestors came to Machakos through the south-eastern
edge of Makueni and Nzaui. There is a sacred site found on the
northern side of the Nzaui hills in Makueni bearing the name of the
clan’s progenitor called Mũlata Ĩvia.
Over the years, they have increased and spread widely to other
regions of Ũkamba. The clan has spawned another two major sub-
clans, namely Mbaa Mai and Mbaa Mũlũlũ meaning Mai and Mũlũlũ
families. Their clan slogan is ‘Ava nthoka na katemi’ and it is usually
chanted during clan meetings.
This is it on the Aombe for this edition, T’yo yĩĩngĩ t’andũ ma
ndanzi!
The Aombe Clan
H
KAMBA CULTURE
P A G E 5
Mbaitu Foundation Inc.
719 W. Front Street
Tyler, Texas 75702 USA
+1.866.4mbaitu (+1.866.462.2488)
info@mbaitufoundation.org
H E A D Q U A R T E R S
Eden Square,
Chiromo Road,
Westlands,Nairobi
(+254).703.716.869
info@mbaitufoundation.org
O U R K E N Y A
O F F I C E
https://mbaitufoundation.org/
Mũkũũwa
Kyanda
Ngũmbaũ
1.
2.
3.
ANSWERS TO HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW KIKAMBA?
4. Ngethe
5. Mwenyu
6. Kwĩvaasya
7. Mũtumĩa
8. Kũya kĩthitu
9. Mũndũ mũe
10. ĩkiĩ
THANK YOU FOR READING!
P A G E 8
A P R I L 2 0 2 1 V O L 1 , I S S U E 0 1