By Vincent Okoth Ongore,
Luo Traditional dancers- File Photo
Jo Ugenya are descendants of Omolo. Ragenya had five direct descendants : Ger, Puny, Boro, Muot, Nyada, Deje. Nyada was assimilated into Alego, and later moved to Homa Bay with some members of Khan (kagan). JoBoro mainly occupy central Ugenya near Ambira, and some parts of Sega, spilling over to busia around Bumala. Jodeje (kateg) are mainly in East Ugenya, in got nanga, jera, ligose, ralak, mauna, lela and surrounding areas. Jokanyamuot are mainly between rangala and sidindi. Some of them are in gem areas.
Jokapuny aka Jamasiro mainly occupy Masiro kathieno, anyiko, nyawara, bar ober, Ligega, got nanga,. Jokager are the most dispersed, found in literally all parts of Ugenya and Ugunja constituencies. They are also found in mumias /butere, gem, busia, Alego, and kano (kochieng’, wagenya), among other places. There are several other clans that live in Ugenya, including : jokaramogi, jo Jok, jo yenga, josiranga, jokamrembo, jokanywa, jokasideg, joka nyalaro jokanyaudo, and others. Some of these clans are of Luo origin while others are not. However, they have all been assimilated into Ugenya. Jo Jok, for instance, are related directly to joka Chwanya ma milambo. Questions have been raised about the origins of jo uholo in Ugunja constituency, and whether they are Luo. Some of you know that when Ramogi crossed into Kenya, he left behind his brother around Tororo area in present day Uganda.
The brother suffered a bad wound ( adhola ) that hindered his mobility. Hence the name padhola (par adhola, dala adhola ). They are also known as wadama in Uganda. As the clan grew bigger, some of them crossed into Kenya through Malaba, and finally settled in the present day uholo (giholo lop jougenya). This group is known as kakeny, and comprises jouwiny, joka saga, joka nyambir, gi jouwangwe. These are Luo clans. Other clans from surrounding communities joined them, including jokalodo, jouulwa, uwesia, kamng’are, umatiro, Jomagoya ( from Konyango orende in kano), jomasawa, among others. Original jo uholo are Luo, whose only sin is that they joined fellow Luo much later and through a route that did not pass through any water mass (nam lolwe). Ja uholo ok en jamwa, en padhola.
Koro uwinjo mano maber? Dhok ma jo Ugenya gi uholo wacho ok en dhomwa, to nikech gichiegni kodgi nitie weche moko ma gisumo koa kono. Mano ema omiyo samoro ka Jaugenya wuoyo to wonyo ok mbula ok iwinjga nyerere
menyarelease 