Rituals and Practices

The rainmakers of the country are found in various Subtribes in Kakamega County which include the Banyala, Isukha, Idakho, and Tachoni. These communities can be found in Navakholo, Ikolomani, shinyalu and lugari constituency respectively. All of them have involved themselves in rain making rituals.

The rainmakers are given tokens to make rain fall during drought or not fall during important occasions, such as wedding, political events, evolutional conference or sports events. Within the rainmaker’s families, this knowledge is guarded carefully, as both a sacred trust and source of livelihood as witnessed among the clan of Avairifuma in Navakholo.

They use Africa traditional indigenous knowledge embedded in African religion to`` pray for rain’ ’by predicting, causing, redirecting and controlling rain within their locality. The role of rainmaking and its effects is therefore crucial. Rainmaking is performed as an expression of African religion through communal ceremonies and further notes that indigenous knowledge in rainmaking rituals is significant in helping local communities respond to climate changes.