OCHOT ODONG in HomaBay is arguably one of Kenya’s most photographed signage. The tale behind the road sign In Luo:, the words on the signpost can have two meanings according to intonation.
First, the phrase means, "A prostitute has been left behind." Secondly, the phrase means, "Something has broken loose and remained behind".
A legend is told of how a man accompanied by his mistress attended the then famous Kendu Bay Agricultural Society of Kenya Show.
Kendu Show, as it was fondly known, was an entertainment hub, what overshadowed the agricultural activities. Revellers came from far and wide to dance to music played by various bands from all over Kenya. The mistress disappeared in the crowds.
The man soon became a figure of ridicule as residents said with glee, "Ochot Odong"-- meaning the mistress had remained behind.
Another story told is that in the past, a journey to the lakeside town of Homa Bay was a bumpy one due to poor roads. Like many tales that were never authenticated, it has been narrated that the particular section where the sign stands had a very big pothole.
With very few minibuses plying the route, travellers would load as much as they could on the carrier.
The big potholes caused trouble as luggage would fall off and passengers, keen not to leave their belongings behind, would persistently shout, "Ochot Odong! Ochot Odong!" to get the attention of the driver to stop, leading to the name.
"There being no mobile phones then, the gentleman went on a search, ending up in our village, asking anyone he met if they had spotted his mistress,"
Onother tale is that , There Israel contractor constructing the road whom locals had nicknamed Yuda (in reference to his Jewish heritage), perturbed by the constant term "Ochot Odong' would be heard asking what the name meant.locals used described it in Kiswahili as,
"Duka zimekatika lakini zingine zimebaki."
That meant the shops have been "cut" (Ochot) and the others remained (Odong') hence the name of the spot Ochot Odong'.
PROPS: @Thriving_luos