If you have ever been to a home in Busia county that had a pig, chances are it had Njeri, Shiko or Wairimu for names. You might’ve thought it was tribalism or why else would Luhya farmers give pigs of all animals Kikuyu names? But that’s not the reason.
Before the 2007-2008 elections violence, Busia county had many Kikuyus, most of who were farmers and traders. In Busia, Nambale and other towns, they owned big businesses and so they were well known. But apart from their businesses, they were also known for something else, pig farming. Back then pig farming wasn’t that popular among the Busia natives and so it was mostly the Kikuyu who ventured into the trade and who owned all the butcheries as well.
Growing up in Nambale, guys like Gitau, Agina were mostly known for their pigs which were usually seen foraging dumpsters around the street. They were a sight to see, and something else that stood out in these pigs were their names. The pigs had only Kikuyu names, especially female ones. So folks were intrigued by all these swines bearing wonderful Kikuyu names.
With times the locals also started rearing pigs which they would sell to the Kikuyu butchers. Pig farming became popular in many homesteads but instead of farmers naming pigs their local names, they continued with the precedence set by the Kikuyu farmers. So instead of hearing Nafula for a pig in a Luhya farmer’s homestead, you still heard Njeri.
The culture is still being maintained to date. Farmers here are still naming their pigs Kikuyu names.