Kekaya was the name of a province in epic India. It was mentioned in both the epics , The Raamaayanam and The Mahaabhaaratham. Very often, in written literature, the country and its ruler were referred with the same name. While the king's name was refered to in masculine gender and singular number, the country's name was referred to in masculine gender and plural number ( as were its people ).
During the time of Mahaabhaaratham, Kekaya country was under the rule of the sootha clan. Keechaka, his half-sister Sudeshna, his 105 brothers were all the children of the Kekaya king, named Kekaya.
The five brothers of Kekaya province and two more brothers Vinda and Anuvinda fought for the Paandavas. Does this mean that there were two segments of Kekaya provinces, possibly?
Or, some royal families of the Kekaya province took refuge with the Paandavas ? Kunthi's sister Srutakiirthi was married by a Kekaya chief named Dhrishtakethu ( different from her nephew, of the same name, son of Shishupaala.).
Another two brothrs , also named Vinda and Anuvinda, from Avanthi province, fought for the Kouravas. These two too, of course, were sons of Kunthi's another sister Raajaadhidevi.
Very complicated, indeed! But it is what we should mind before concluding anything about the great epic.
"After praying to Naaraayana, Nara, Sarasvathi and Vyaasa, then one should read the Jayam."
DEDICATED TO MY DEAR NIECE VYSHNAVI KRISHNA