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A Personal Encounter with the Man Who Walked Naked and Lived in the Forest

Opiyo Udo Galo sitting just outside the forest, where he often rests before returning to his secluded space.

By Violet Auma – Khwisero, Kakamega

It had been years since I last set foot in Esoboso-Ebukutenga village, Khwisero sub-county. The place still held its serene charm, with its lush greenery and rolling hills, but this time, I was drawn back by the enduring whispers of an extraordinary man—Opiyo Udo Galo.

A man who had abandoned the normal way of life, retreating into the forest to survive on wild fruits, herbs, and roots. A man who, even after all these years, remained an enigma to the locals.

I first met Opiyo Udo Galo at the onset of my journalism career. His story intrigued me deeply. He was once a learned and dependable man, living like any other in the village. But after his father’s death, a fierce land dispute erupted, triggering a drastic transformation that left many in shock.

Opiyo had tried to claim his father’s land in a neighboring community, but something inexplicable happened. He abandoned his home, demolished his house, and refused to live in the ones his family built for him.

Unlike the typical image of a family man, Opiyo had never married nor fathered any children, a fact that made his isolation even more profound.

As I walked towards the edge of the forest where he was known to reside, villagers eagerly shared their accounts of the strange man who had turned his back on civilization.

He had refused to wear clothes, walking the forest naked, and he refused to eat cooked food, fearing it might be poisoned. Instead, he survived off wild fruits and herbs from the woods that bordered his former home.

At night, it was said he dug a hole deep in the forest to sleep in, a self-imposed exile that seemed to defy logic and human instinct.

His refusal to wear clothes made him an even more striking figure. His long, matted dreadlocks framed his face like a wild crown, while his unshaven, weathered appearance and barefoot lifestyle deepened the mystery surrounding him.

To some, he was a madman. To others, a victim of dark forces.

The villagers spoke in hushed tones about the possibility of witchcraft, believing his fate was intertwined with the violent land dispute that had marked the turning point of his life.

His survival in the unforgiving wilderness, surrounded by wild animals and harsh elements, was something few could fathom. But there he was, still alive, still a part of the forest.

Opiyo’s bizarre lifestyle turned him into a living legend. People from all over came to catch a glimpse of him, some out of curiosity, others out of sympathy.

His story even attracted the attention of prominent figures, including former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the late veteran politician Martin Shikuku.

Shikuku, in a show of kindness, reportedly built him a house. But Opiyo, true to his nature, refused to stay in it. Instead, he demolished it and returned to the forest.

Even those who tried to help him soon realized that he wanted nothing but the company of the wild.

During my visit, I found him just as the villagers had described—sitting by the roadside, soaking in the warm sun after emerging from the depths of the forest.

His weathered face, his body bore the marks of a life lived in the wild, yet there was something calm about him, something almost peaceful.

Opiyo Udo Galo and I (Violet Auma), chatting outside the forest.

He seemed at peace with his environment, though his rugged appearance and unkempt state spoke of the struggles he’d endured.

He recognized me instantly. The moment I approached, he nodded in acknowledgment, just as he would when his family members passed by, a stark contradiction to the belief that he had lost all connection to reality.

He accepted nothing from me except for a local alcoholic brew, chang’aa. “Ninunulie chang’aa,” meaning “buy me chang’aa,” Opiyo requested, perhaps one of the few indulgences he still allowed himself.

As I sat beside him, his deep, searching eyes held stories untold. I wondered what thoughts ran through his mind after all these years of solitude in the forest.

More often than not, I would start a conversation, but he remained silent, perhaps unaware of the world I spoke of. To some extent, he seemed disconnected from it all, living in a reality all his own.

The villagers held mixed opinions about Opiyo. Some saw him as a tragic figure, a man who had fallen victim to forces beyond his control. Others believed he had made a conscious decision to reject society’s expectations and to live life on his terms.

Opiyo Udo Galo sunbathing outside the forest

And as the sun dipped below the horizon, Opiyo Udo Galo rose without a word and disappeared once more into the woods, his silhouette fading into the twilight.

As of my last encounter with him, Opiyo was still living in the forest. Whether he is still alive today remains uncertain. His story is a reflection of the deep-seated land conflicts in Khwisero, where land is not just a form of wealth, but a source of power, a power that has torn families apart and, in some cases, driven people to the edge.

His life remains a paradox, one of pain and resilience, of mystery and legend.

Whether he was bewitched, mentally unwell, or simply made a conscious choice to live as he did, his story will be passed down through the generations in Esoboso-Ebukutenga village and beyond.

His existence, though unconventional, challenges our understanding of freedom, choice, and survival.

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