history lessons cont.
i know you must have seen this somewhwere but there are a few additions
feel free to add some more
- Ruaka- “Rui rua aka” Meaning “River of women”
- Dagoretti- “Ndagurite” Meaning a place that’s not yet bought as Karen Blixen had already the rest of the area.
- Rumuruti (in Laikipia)- The town was on the route from Nyahururu to Mararal which was commonly used by white settlers. They referred to the trail between the two settlements as a “Remote route"
- Kapropita (In Baringo)- A settler known as “Corporal Peter” lived in the area.
- Kirigiti (Kiambu)- There was a popular cricket field there, locals could not pronounce “Cricket” hence the name Kirigiti… Lol
- Roysambu- The place was known as “Royal Suburbs” during the colonial times.
- Kariakor- During the First World War a contingent of Africans were in the British army as carrying luggage. “The Carrier Corps” and would meet in the present Kariakor!
- Msongari- The name was “Muthangari” and an area in Lavington still maintains that name. The name was a bit tuff for the settlers and they pronounced it as “Msongari”.
- Limuru- corruption from a Maasai word ilmur which means donkey droppings and even today there’s lots of it there!
- Naivasha = Enaiposha – meaning the lake in Masai.
- Nakuru = Nakurro – meaning a dust bowl – dusty place in Masai.
- Nyahururu – Enaiwurruwurr – meaning windy or place of storms. Also means some plant in Masai.
- Banana (Kiambu) Lots of bananas were bought and sold along that area.
- Kinoo- There was a very large sign that read “NO THROUGH WAY”. The Kikuyu living in the area would refer to the area as “haria hee Ki-no, Hence…
- Kabarnet- The town is named after a missionary called Barnet, from Alsace, France.
- Kawangware- Named after the Man called Ngware. He opened the 1st shop there in 60s and Kikuyus would say (ndathii gatuka-ini KA+WA+NGWARE) “I have gone to shop at Ngware’s shop”
- Kilifi- Great Cliffs in that area.
Any more???