Taita Taveta Council of Elders
The community organization at the forefront in promoting the culture, traditions, and heritage of the Taita and the Taveta peoples as the indigenous communities reflecting on their identity and socio-economic development.
About Taita Taveta County(County 006)
Taita Taveta County is made up of 4 Sub County’s namely: Mwatate, Voi, Wundanyi and Taveta. Mwatate is the County Headquarters. Wundanyi was formerly the Provincial administration under the old system of government, it still retains the bulk of government offices to this day.
Mwatate Subcounty is the county headquaters after the onset of devolution in the new dispensation.
Because of its centrality, proximity and transit location, the Mombasa/Nairobi road and the railway network, now SGR, Voi would promptly acquire the commercial and industrial center status while Taveta and Wundanyi the agriculturally rich Subcounties. The geographic position of Voi town has since devolution attracted a lot of investors. Voi is the major town from Mombasa port. As the transportation and commercial hub, Voi has the potential of hosting an inland container deport as well as EPZ. Voi is the conduit for Mzima Springs, with fresh water that is pumped all the way to Mombasa. Many hotels are found around Voi town but the most famous Taita Hills & Salt Lick Lodges is found in Mwatate Sub County. The expansive Tsavo national park is coordinated in Voi with KWS offices located within. Taveta is the Sub County that borders Tanzania.
Opportunities in Tourism and Holiday Making
Attractive, unique ecosystem that excites Tourism.
The unique spectrum that Taveta Subcounty beholds; on it’s shoulder lies the gigantic Mt.Kilimanjaro, the roof of Africa straddling near the border with Kenya, sight to behold.
Closeby is Lake Chala, across is Lake Jipe also shared by Kenya and Tanzania, Pare hills stands majestically along the border. Njoro springs abounds with fresh water, such is abundance of water that adequately feeds the Banana plantations allover the place.
Taveta is covered by Tsavo National Park while across the border is featured by Mkomazi National Park. Both Parks are vital for wildlife corridors, allowing animals like elephants and other species to migrate and thrive.
If there is a place to invest in, it is TaitaTaveta County, Welcome.
Natural Resources
Landscape: A land of striking contrasts, Taita Taveta boasts a diverse landscape that ranges from expansive savannahs to lush highland forests, sustaining a unique biodiversity of flora and fauna found nowhere else in Kenya.
Abundant fresh water resources, from the crystal-clear Mzima Springs to the life-giving Njoro Springs, sustaining both people and wildlife across the county.
Minerals: Taita Taveta County is rich in minerals including gemstones such as tsavorite, ruby, sapphire, tourmaline, and amethyst, as well as industrial minerals like iron ore, manganese, copper, limestone, and quartz.
A section of minerals in the County
Ranches are a big asset for the County for livestock grazing, harvesting of Carbon credits and Conservancies.
Heritage sites: that preserve the memory of World War I, connecting Taita Taveta’s hills and plains to the broader story of global history.
Exploited and managed well, the County government can increase own source revenues to supplement its quota from the national government and improve the wellbeing of the community.
Taveta is home to Lake Chala and Lake Jipe that are ideal for tourism, offering unique experiences for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Lake Chala is a stunning crater lake known for its clear, turquoise waters, unique biodiversity, and proximity to Mount Kilimanjaro, providing opportunities for day trips, kayaking, and hiking. Lake Jipe is a tranquil, picturesque lake celebrated for its rich wildlife, diverse bird species, and serene landscape, ideal for bird watching, wildlife viewing, and relaxing by the water.
Taita Taveta has 20 Wards namely:
In Voi
Mbololo, Kaloleni, Saghala, Marungu, Kasigau, Ngolia
In Mwatate
Ronge, Mwatate, Bura, Chawia, WusiKishamba
In Wundanyi
Wundanyi/Mbale, Werugha, Wumingu/Kishushe, Mwanda/Mgange
In Taveta
Chala, Mahoo, Bomani, Mboghonyi, Mata.
A contrast of Legends Luanda Magero for the Luo Mumbi for the Agikuyu Arap Samoei for the Kalenjin Mekatllili wa Menza for the Giriama Mwangeka wa Malowa for the Taita nation.
Mwangeka Wa Malowa
The Magnificent Warrior
Mwangeka son of Malowa was born in Mwanda Kwa Weni Ngasu in 1842 in Taita Taveta, land of magestic hills, sometimes shrouded in clouds and mists, which hug the bosom of the sky. As was typical among the Taita in those days he had the three wives Zighe, Mshote from Mrughua, Msudu village. Mfwa Mwaghowa from Bura, Koshinyi village and Mfwa Ndaghina from Mwanda Njawuli who bore him four sons and two daughters.
Part of the story is given that in 1892, Captain Welson took command of the British soldiers and those of the Sultan to invade and destabilize Mwangeka’s leadership and military strength, with a purpose of raising the British flag and install colonial rule. The military invasion to Taita land by the British soldiers was handled with a lot of inhuman torture, burnt houses, destroyed other properties and killed innocent unarmed people. The British colonial Army came in combat with the Mwangeka soldiers at Mwashoti, Mlughi village near Mrughua, where heavy military power exchange broke. It took one month resistance on British soldier’s efforts to penetrate to Taita Hills or upper villages.
This strong resistance by the Mwangeka troops forced Captain Nelson of the British command to order for a tactical military withdrawal (retreat) for the purpose of more technical and tactical planning. While on their withdrawal, they sent their military intelligent corps and scouts to villages where they managed to come across Mr. Mbogholi wa Samaghembe from Bura location whom they bribed and accepted to release Mwangeka wa Malowa’s fighting tactics. The rest of the story will be found in the link below and other historical sources.
Part of the extract on Mwangeka obtains from Ephraim Kitimo Mwaruta, Historical Records and Oral Traditions from Mwanda Taita.
Reference: https://artsandculture.google.com/story/JwUBdATeM41VIw
Mzima Springs
About Us
Taita Taveta Elders Council is a registered organization as
a CBO. The office is located in Bura, Taita.
Why register an Elders Council?
Kenya is a country consisting of 42 indigenous tribes, each tribe has its own customs and traditions owing to their cultural heritage. It has been a tradition by the larger tribes to form their elders councils that are expected to articulate their welfare and promote their customs and traditions so that their legacy can be sustained to future generations. A peoples culture is the distinction of identity. One can always distinguish one group of people to the other by the way they look, by their language and
dialects. There is always something unique in a people who have shared a common ancestry where land and
resources have been part of their heritage.
The indigenous people of of Taita Taveta County are members of the Bantu community, the Dawida and the Taveta. The Dawida, the Sagalla and the Kasigau are distinct but interrelated sub-groups forming the Taita community. You will find the three in the mountainous massifs, the Dawida in the Dawida massif, the Sagalla in Sagalla hills while the Kaigau in Kasigau hills. The other official indigenous members are the
Tavetas. The Pare community living in in Taveta SubCounty, formally petitioned the government for recognition as a distinct Kenyan tribe seeking full legal status and citizenship. The petition was submitted to the Deputy president Kithure Kindiki by Taveta MP John Bwire.
TTEC is a non-political organization, it supports the government of the day as well as the County government to achieve their goals in service delivery.
Part of our programs and projects are and shall be ….
- Promotion of our culture, customs, traditions and conservation of our heritage.
- Mitigation efforts against climate change.
The Boy Child.
Like in many County’s in the country, unemployment is one of the biggest challenges affecting the youth. This has led to disillusionment to many, it may have caused many youths to avoid marriage leading to an almost stagnant population. By working with NACADA and related stakeholders, we shall find solutions to mitigate these challenges to rescue our youth and people from drug abuse related issues that have affected our socio- economic goals.
Mitigation Efforts against Climate change.
Climate change is a global phenomenon with extremes in drought and rainy seasons where shortages food and extreme flooding are experienced causing a lot of suffering and destruction. Kenya has played a big role for mitigation efforts nationally and internationally. Through working with KFS, NEMA and other related stakeholders, we shall work to restore our environment to be able to ensure sustainability.
Many other efforts aimed at restoring capacity for our community are already ongoing.
Significant cultural practices
Wula ghwa mburi
This is a cultural practice by the Taita people. This is a ritual performed by a specialized set of elders who will use the slaughtering of goat. By contacting the medium, they would get messages through spiritual communication which helps in arbitration between warring parties within families or neighbors. The outcome of the messages good or bad are normally taken seriously.
Ngoma yabara Isanga(Mwazindika spirit dance)– This is one of the special traditional dancers found in Bura Taita. They form part of the diverse cultural groups found across the Taita land. This group was recognized by UNESCO, to intangible Cultural Heritage List in Urgent Need of Safeguarding. Reference is given below…..
https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/efforts-underway-nominate-taita-mwazindika-spirit-dance-unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-list
Committed to Helping the Community
Efforts of assisting our County to acquire state-of the-art-medical-equipment have already been done to Bura Health Center, Mwatate District Hospital and Wesu Hospital through friendly assistance and philanthropic efforts. It is hoped that more needy interventions like these shall be made through more partnership arrangements.
Invitation for membership
Registered groups run by Wakidina, CBOs, FBOs, Self Help groups, Women groups, Youth groups besides individuals in all Wards in Taita Taveta County are invited to join as members, to partner with us in achieving the desired goals or have them featured in our website.
To support our transformational community interventions, you can send your support through this Paybill or reach us through our domain contact.
Registration fees to be a member of TTEC is Ksh.200.
PAYBILL BUSINESS No. 522533
ACCOUNT No. 7954191
How does one benefit by being a member of TTEC?
1. Such contributions will help in the efforts being deployed to get disadvantaged graduated wakitina youths from TVET institutions to get placement for industrial attachment which may result to employment.
2. Such funds and more shall facilitate the vulnerable in our community to get a Simba (building materials and support for building a two roomed house in readiness for marriage)
3. It will help to build a kitty to put up a victim of drug related issues for rehab, skills acquisition for self employment or formal engagement.
4. It will help many other youths access opportunities through capacity building.
5. Funds shall be used for Climate Change Mitigation efforts.
6. It will help in the growth of TTEC to be more resilient.
7. Such and more funds will help in more R & D to ensure our community access decent livelihoods in their backyards.
Contact Us
We would love to hear from you. We are here to serve you and answer any questions you may have, listen to your suggestions that will make our County better.