The Bunyore region of Western Kenya has endured multiple waves of famine, each reshaping agricultural practices and social identity. Oral traditions from the Abasiekwe reveal how famines were etched into community memory through famine-based peer group names—every child born during a particular famine often inherited its name. These collective experiences not only reflect hardship but also reveal deep-rooted resilience and adaptation strategies that continue to influence Bunyore’s agricultural landscape.
Table: Chronology of Major Famines in Bunyore
| Famine Name | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| Esileeta Bakhaye | 1884 |
| Olwendende | 1888 |
| Ongong’a | 1902 |
| Opande | 1907 |
| Keya | 1916 |
| Nyangweso | 1932–1933 |
| Esikombe | 1942–1943 |
| Mau Mau | 1953, 1965–1974 |
| Omukorokoro | 1980 |
| Saba L’lala | 1997 |
Key Famines, Causes, and Community Responses
1. Nyangweso Famine (1932–1933): Armyworm Invasion
Known locally as tsisiche, armyworms devoured all vegetation, sparking one of the most devastating famines in Bunyore’s history. Relief came through intercommunity support, particularly from the Luo of Siaya, and through newly introduced crops such as sweet potatoes and potato vines brought by early colonial settlers.
2. Esikombe Famine (1942–1943): Hailstone Destruction
This famine was widespread across the Lake Victoria region and severely impacted the Nganyi and Luo communities. The cause was massive hailstorms that destroyed entire harvests. Relief came in the form of measured food rations, often distributed or sold by the cup—locally referred to as esikombe—depending on one’s purchasing ability.
3. Mau Mau Famine (1953, 1965–1974): Drought Meets Conflict
The 1953 famine was triggered by prolonged drought and compounded by the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya. Armyworms returned to worsen the situation, obliterating most crops. Locals relied on resilient hunger crops like cassava, arrowroots, and sweet potatoes. Later, in 1965, yellow maize (kipindi) was imported from the USA as food relief to offset declining grain productivity.
Agricultural Adaptation Through Time
Original Crops and Colonial Influence
Before European colonization, the Luyia people—having migrated from Uganda—depended on sorghum and millet, which were the staple grains for making obusuma (Luyia) or kuon (Luo), locally known today as ugali. The construction of the railway and colonial settlement introduced new crops:
- Maize (Lituma): Introduced by Indian laborers (Coolies) as their staple food.
- Sweet Potatoes: Brought in around 1931–1932 to replace vegetation destroyed by armyworms.
- Cassava (Mukhongo): Originally from Kenya’s coastal region, included both bitter and edible varieties.
- Fruits: Bananas and pumpkins arrived indirectly through elephant activity, while guavas, pawpaws, and oranges began to appear in the 1930s.
These introductions drastically transformed Bunyore’s agricultural resilience, enabling locals to diversify food sources and mitigate the impact of future famines.
Cultural and Environmental Legacy
The Bunyore famine history is more than a sequence of droughts and crop failures—it is a narrative of survival, intercommunity solidarity, and evolving agricultural systems. With every famine, the community adapted by embracing new crops, cultivating drought-resistant staples, and developing cross-border food exchange systems. Today, these lessons continue to shape the food security strategies and cultural identity of Bunyore’s people.
