Kit Mikayi lures visitors with tales of tradition and passion

The spectacular view of Kit Mikayi rocks in Kisumu. FILE PHOTO |

What you need to know:

  • Rocks have become more than just geographical feature.
  • The word, which means the first wife, has inspired folk tales across western.

Any first time visitor to Kit Mikayi rocks in Seme, Kisumu County may be forgiven for thinking that the rocks balancing perfectly on top of each other are about to fall.

This is because of their amazing arrangement that offers a spectacular view that keeps visitors coming back for more.

Kit Mikayi is a rock formation which is 70 metres high.

It is located along the Kisumu- Bondo road in Western Kenya.

In Dholuo language, which is widely spoken in the area, Kit Mikayi means ‘‘stones of the first wife’’ or ‘‘First wife’s rocks’’.

The rocks are located 30 kilometres east of the lakeside city of Kisumu and one kilometre from Kisumu-Bondo road.

LUO FAMILY

One can easily access it through a sign board on the gate of Kit Mikayi Primary School as you enter via Ng’op Ngeso Primary School.

Despite various geological explanations on how it was formed, locals have their juicy version of how it came to exist.

According to folk tales, there was an old man by the name Ngeso who adored and cherished the rocks.

Every day when he woke up, he would walk into the cave under the stone and rest the whole day.

The wife was thus forced to bring him his meals there every day.

The old man became passionately in love with this stone and every time residents asked her where her husband was, she would say he had gone to be with his first wife (Mikayi).

The stone was thus called the first wife (Kit Mikayi).

Others opine that due to its features, the structure represents the traditional Luo cultural polygamous family which had the first wife’s house (Mikayi) built further in between.

The house of the second wife was built on the right hand side(Nyachira) while the third wife’s house (Reru) was built on the left hand side of the homestead.

The stone is held sacred by the locals and is used for worshipping during calamities such as famine and drought.

Many believers especially the Legio Maria sect worshipers often troop to the place to worship and offer sacrifices.

Kit Mikayi is a sight that any nature admirer should add to their places-to-visit list.

Other beautiful attraction sites near these gorgeous rocks include Ndere Island National Park in Lake Victoria which is about an hour drive away and Impala Park located in Kisumu.

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