Ever wondered how funny local names like ‘Kawangware’ came to be?

1. Ruaka- “Rui rua aka” Meaning “River of women”

The river, known as “Rui-Rwa-Aka”, meaning “women’s river”, was reserved for Kikuyu girls during circumcision for its cold-morning anaesthetic waters. Ruaraka was the corrupted version of the name.

2. Dagoretti- “Ndagurite” Meaning a place that’s not yet bought as Karen Blixen had already the rest of the area.

3. 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”

4. Kapropita (In Baringo)- A settler known as “Corporal Peter” lived in the area.

5. Kirigiti (Kiambu)- There was a popular cricket field there, locals could not pronounce “Cricket” hence the name Kirigiti.

6. Roysambu- The place was known as “Royal Suburbs” during the colonial times.

7. 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!

8. Msongari- The name was “Muthangari” and an area in Lavington still maintains that name. The name was a bit tough for the settlers and they pronounced it as “Msongari”.

9. Limuru- corruption from a Maasai word ilmur which means donkey droppings and even today there’s lots of it there!

10. Naivasha = Enaiposha – meaning the lake in Masai.

11. Nakuru = Nakurro – meaning a dust bowl – dusty place in Masai.

12. Nyahururu – Enaiwurruwurr – meaning windy or place of storms. Also means some plant in Masai.

13. Banana (Kiambu) Lots of bananas were bought and sold along that area.

14. 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.

15. Kabarnet- The town is named after a missionary called Barnet, from Alsace, France.

16. 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”

17. Kilifi- Great Cliffs in that area.

18. Mathare – African labourers would be dropped there by white and told ‘go to your motherland’ so they called the place Mathare.

19.Rodikopani – A major junction as one heads from Rongo to HomaBay town. A Road Company had its operation base there long time ago.