Oduk: The Story of the Iteso Conqueror

Oduk and Among’in were both Emuro. Emuro are diviners who also hold the highest political office or Etam.

Oduk and his wife helped the Iteso to migrate from Uganda to their present homeland in Busia county around 1500A.D.

Oduk implored the Iteso to keep in touch with their spirituality through the proper worship of Iteso gods and spirits such as Akuj, Edeke, Ajokin and Ipara.

Oduk also encouraged his people towards the constant appeasement of the dead through ritual exhumation after a number of years. In respect to this tradition, some Iteso remain reluctant to be buried in coffins.

Funeral rituals are a major focus of Iteso traditional life and many Iteso point out that these rituals are a primary reason for having children: The Iteso have a saying, “Without children, who will sacrifice at the head of your grave?”.

Oduk’s teachings continue to have an influence on Iteso culture today.

Oduk's legacy lives on
The Iteso people live in Western Province of Kenya, currently in Busia County, in the South of Mt. Elgon. Mt. Elgon is an extinct shield volcano on the border of Uganda and Kenya, north of Kisumu and west of Kitale. The mountain's highest point, named "Wagagai", is located entirely within Uganda.

Although there is no verifiable evidence of its earliest volcanic activity, geologists estimate that Mt Elgon is at least 24 million years old, making it the oldest extinct volcano in East Africa.

The mountain is the catchment area for several rivers such as the Suam River, which becomes the Turkwel downstream and drains into Lake Turkana, and the Nzoia River and the Lwakhakha River, which flow to Lake Victoria.

The town of Kitale is at the foothills of the mountain. The area around the mountain is protected by two Mt Elgon National Parks, one on each side of the international border