The British development Kakamega for defensive purpose in 1903, and by 1920 it had become the distinct headquarters.
The discovery of gold in 1931 brought an influx of settlers and greatly increased the town’s population.
Kakamega derives it’s modern name from the local dialect. The story goes that when European settlers first visited the area now known as Kakamega and were offered Maize meal,the local staple food called Obusuma ,they tried to emulate the eating style for which the tribe was famous.
To the hosts through the visitors were more like ‘pinching’ the Obusuma. The resulting administrative area was named ‘Kakamega’ which rounghly translate to “pinch”. Below is a clock pillar or tower build by the Colonial masters the pic dates back in 1944.
