List of rulers of Wanga explained

List of rulers of Wanga Kingdom in Kenya.

Though the Wanga kingdom king's list actually starts from the re-known founder Wanga, some researchers date them back to the old Egyptian kings time where they were under the leadership of Makata.[1] They assert that through their migration, they passed through many places such as Cameroon, Ethiopia where they were under the leadership of Simbi and Nangwera. While in Uganda they were ruled by several Buganda kings such as Muteesa, Kamaanyi, Mwanga (also Muwanga), Mbwoli (also Mbwoti), Muwanga II.[2] Later, Wamoyi settled in Ibanda in Samia (Uganda), and Muwanga III, his son, migrated to Lela in Nyanza Kenya around the 10th century. The children of Muwanga III were Khabiakala, Wamoyi, Wanga, Wekhoba, Mukoya, Mutende and Sakwa. They all dispersed to different regions to search for a better place to live.

Muwanga III's son called Sakwa migrated to Bondo along the Lake Victoria basin. The other son Mutende, migrated southwards and settled in Kuria. The other four sons: Wamoyi, Wanga, Wekhoba and Mukoya moved to Tiriki after being invited by a cousin of them called Mukolwe who had settled earlier in Maragoli.

It is related that later, Wanga secretly moved towards the West alone and arrived in a place called Imanga in South Wanga in Mumias West sub-county. Nakhisa in his research mentions a list of kings who ruled the Wanga as follows:[3]

Wanga1050 - 1140Foundation of the Kingdom of Wanga
Wabala1140 - 1190
Musuwi1190 - 1274
Chibwire1274 - 1354
Musindalo1354 - 1464
Chitechi1464 - 1554
Netya1554 - 1617
Osundwa1617 - 1717
Wamukoya1717 - 1797
Shiundu1797 -1880
Mumia1880 - 1949Significant historic figure, ruled during the colonial period.
Shitawa1949 - 1974
Peter Mumia II1974 to present

Notes and References

  1. Web site: November 11, 2020. Kenya: The Treasure Trove That Is the Wanga Kingdom. April 18, 2021. allafrica.com.
  2. Web site: "King Mumia's plan to reclaim past glory of Wanga Kingdom".. April 18, 2021. Nation Media Group.
  3. Book: Nakhisa, Andrew W.. Dhima Ya Utawala Wa Nabongo Mumia Katika Maenezi Ya Lugha Ya Kiswahili Ubukusuni, Mkoani Magharibi (Kenya). Kenyatta University. 2009. Nairobi. 39.