Bungoma | |
---|---|
Town | |
Clockwise from top: Church street, Khetias Crossroads, Bungoma bus park, Kenyatta Avenue. | |
Coordinates: 00°34′00″N34°34′00″E / 0.56667°N 34.56667°E | |
Country | Kenya |
County | Bungoma County |
Elevation | 4,544 ft (1,385 m) |
Population (2019 Census) [1] | |
• Total | 68,031 |
Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
Area code | 039 |
Climate | Am |
Bungoma town is the capital of Bungoma County in Kenya. It was established as a trading centre in the early 20th century. It is located in Kenya's fertile Western region and at the foot of Mount Elgon, Kenya's second-highest mountain. The town and the surrounding areas boast one of Kenya's highest average rainfalls, making Bungoma one of the nation's most important food baskets.
Bungoma was named from Bong'omek tribe of the Kalenjin community. The Bong'omek community inhabited the now known Bungoma as they were only ones who were capable of living there. There were many diseases and because Bong'om were wiser (ng'om) they were able to survive there.
Unfortunately, the Bungomek were later driven out by the Bukusu, but the name Bungoma, in reference to their occupation, remained.
Farming is the main economic activity in the county. Bungoma County is dependent on sugarcane farming, with one of the country's largest sugar factories as well as numerous small-holder sugar mills. Maize is also grown for subsistence, alongside pearl millet and sorghum. Dairy farming is widely practised, as well as the raising of poultry. There is a small but important tourist circuit, centring on the biennial circumcision ceremonies that are mostly practiced by the Bukusu, Tachoni and Sabaot peoples.[ citation needed ] [2]
Aside from sugar processing, the town also contains various other manufacturing plants such as maize mills, large bakeries, dairy plants and a plastic factory. Other smaller-scale manufacturing activities include steel crafting, iron sheet production, garages and auto repairs.
The services sector is also quite vibrant. There is a busy retail sector dominated by local brands, several banks, insurance companies and large hotels to support the local tourist circuit.
The major economic activity in the area is sugarcane farming. This is because more than 67000 farmers directly depend on Nzoia Sugar Company Ltd. [3] Early businesses were supported by the Kenya-Uganda Railway which passes through the town. The collapse of Webuye paper mills and the struggling Nzoia Sugar Company has led to an economic nightmare in the county. Malakisi Ginnery that solely depends on cotton farming in Bungoma County and neighboring counties like Busia has struggled for ages to stand on its feet because of inadequate cotton supplies and few people have embraced cotton farming. Within Malikisi town, British America Tobacco (BAT) also had a well-established leaf buying also contributed and supported the inhabitants of part of Bungoma County that initially had embraced Tobacco farming. Most of the people previously employed there have looked for other jobs while some have totally relocated to other counties.
Major tertiary educational institutions include the Sang'alo Institute of Science and Technology, Mabanga Farmer's training center, SACRED Training Institute, Kibabii University and The Friends School Kamusinga.
The Governor of Bungoma, Kenneth Lusaka, was elected in the 2022 election; he succeeded Wycliffe Wangamati, elected in 2017. Previously the mayor of Bungoma town was Barasa Mbinga of Ford-Kenya, who beat the previous mayor Majimbo Okumu of ODM in the 2009 mayoral election, voted by the Bungoma councilors. [4] The senator of Bungoma is Hon. David Wafula Wakoli.
The current Bungoma governor is Kenneth Makelo Lusaka after edging out Wycliffe Wangamati in the August 2022 election.
Trans-Nzoia County is a county in the former Rift Valley Province, Kenya, located between the Nzoia River and Mount Elgon, 380 km northwest of Nairobi. At its centre is the town of Kitale which is the county capital and largest town. It is bordered by the Republic of Uganda to the west, Bungoma and Kakamega Counties to the south, West Pokot County to the east, and Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu Counties to the southeast. Trans Nzoia covers an area of 2495.5 square kilometres. The county has a cool and temperate climate, with daytime temperatures ranging from 23.4°C to 29.2°C and nighttime temperatures from 11.0°C to 13.5°C. It receives moderate rainfall, making it suitable for agriculture
The Luhya are a Bantu people and the second largest ethnic group in Kenya. The Luhya belong to the larger linguistic stock known as the Bantu. The Luhya are located in western Kenya and Uganda. They are divided into 20 culturally and linguistically united clans. Once known as the Kavirondo, multiple small tribes in North Nyanza came together under the new name Baluhya between 1950 and 1960. The Bukusu are the largest Luhya subtribe and account for almost 30% of the entire Luhya population.
The Bukusu people are one of the 17 Kenyan tribes of the Luhya Bantu people of East Africa residing mainly in the counties of Bungoma and Trans Nzoia. They are the largest tribe of the Luhya nation, with 1,188,963 identifying as Bukusu in the 2019 Kenyan census. They speak the Bukusu dialect.
Western Province was one of Kenya's seven administrative provinces outside Nairobi. It is inhabited mainly by the Luhya people. Quakerism is widely practised here. Kenya's second highest mountain, Mount Elgon is located in Bungoma District. The Kakamega Forest rainforest is part of the area. The province capital was Kakamega. After the 2013 general election, and the coming into effect of kenya's new constitution, provinces became defunct and the country is currently divided into 47 counties. Each county has its own government and therefore there is no central regional capital. Western Province became the Western region, comprising four counties: Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, and Busia.
Kimilili is a town and area in Kenya's Bungoma County. The area is occupied mainly by the Bukusu and a few Teso communities. It is a trading center for agricultural goods and services. The town has a population of 56,050
Webuye, previously named Broderick Falls, is an industrial town in western region of Kenya and home to the Tachoni people. It is located within Webuye West sub county in Bungoma County, at the slopes of chetambe hill Kenya. Located on the main road to Uganda, the town is home to the Pan African Paper Mills, formerly the largest paper factory in the region, as well as East African heavy-chemicals plant. The area is heavily populated and is used mainly for subsistence agriculture. The town has an urban population of 42,642.
Bungoma County is a county in the former Western Province of Kenya with its capital in Bungoma town. It has a population of 1,670,570 of which 812,146 are males and 858,389 are females as per the 2019 census. The county has an area of 2,069 km2. It has nine constituencies, namely: Bumula, Kabuchai, Kanduyi, Kimilili, Mt. Elgon, Sirisia, Tongaren, Webuye East, and Webuye West.
Kakamega County is a county in the former Western Province of Kenya. It borders Vihiga County to the South, Siaya County to the West, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties to the North and Nandi, and Uasin Gishu counties to the East. It's capital and largest town is Kakamega town. The County has a population of 1,867,579, and an area of 3,033.8 km2.
Matungu is a small town in the Western Province of Kenya. It is located in the Kakamega County.
Kilgoris is a town in Narok County, Kenya. The town has a population of 70,475. Kilgoris is one of two major urban centres in Narok County, the other being Narok Town.
Butere is a town in Kakamega County, which was formerly part of the Western Province of Kenya. According to 2009 Kenya National Census, it has an urban population of 4,725. Until 2010, Butere served as the capital of the former Butere/Mumias District.
Homa Bay County is a county in the former Nyanza Province of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Homa Bay. The county has a population of 1,131,950 and an area of 3,154.7 km2. Lake Victoria is a major source of livelihood for Homa Bay County. It has 40 wards, each represented by an MCA in the Homa Bay county assembly located in Homa Bay town, which is the county headquarters.
Misikhu is a rural town situated on the southern slopes of Mt Elgon, in Bungoma County, Kenya. Located ten kilometres north of Webuye town and towards Kitale, Misikhu serves as both an administrative and commercial hub.
Uganda's favorable soil conditions and climate have contributed to the country's agricultural success. Most areas of Uganda have usually received plenty of rain. In some years, small areas of the southeast and southwest have averaged more than 150 millimeters per month. In the north, there is often a short dry season in December and January. Temperatures vary only a few degrees above or below 20 °C but are moderated by differences in altitude.
The Maragoli, or Logoli (Ava-Logooli), are now the second-largest ethnic group of the 6 million Luhya nation in Kenya, numbering around 2.1 million, or 15% of the Luhya people according to the last Kenyan census. Their language is called Logoli, Lulogooli, Ululogooli, or Maragoli. The name Maragoli probably emerged later on or after interaction of the people with missionaries of the Quaker Church.
Chwele is a town in Bungoma County, Western Kenya. The town is an agricultural and marketing centre located between Kimilili and Bungoma. The market is the major meeting point for farmers from the surrounding areas of Mount Elgon, Namwela, Sirisia, Lurende, Matibo and Chebukaka especially every Monday and Friday when there is a market day. Large quantities of maize, bananas, local vegetables, sim sim as well as livestock such as chicken, goats, cattle and sheep are available for sale. The market is Kenya's second largest open air market. The urban population was 9,799.
Uriri is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of eight constituencies of Migori County. There are five wards in the constituency, all electing councillors to the Migori County council. The constituency was established for the 1997 elections. Its mainly inhabited by two ethnic tribes namely Luo and the Abaluhya, who live harmoniously, with kiswahili being the major language in this sub county region.
The Tachoni is one of the tribes that occupy Kakamega County in the western part of Kenya, known for its gallant defense of the Chetambe in 1895 when resisting British rule. Tachoni people were masters at building forts such as Chetambe, Lumboka, and Kiliboti. It was their defiance of colonialism that led to the colonial government to put the entire region occupied by the Tachoni under administration of paramount chiefs drawn from Bunyala and Wanga communities. The Tachoni share land with the Abanyala, the Kabras, Nandi, and Bukusu tribe. They live mainly in Webuye, Chetambe Hills, Ndivisi Matete sub-county-Lwandeti, Maturu, Mayoyo, Lukhokho, Kiliboti, Kivaywa, Chepsai, and Lugari sub-county in Kakamega County. Most Tachoni clans living in Bungoma speak the ' Olutachoni dialect which is a hybrid of the luhyia language of the luhyia people. Since they lost their original dialect during the divide and rule system used by the whites to scatter them for being resistant to their colonialism, they had to find a way to interact with their new neighbors and thats why they're subsequently mistaken as Bukusus. They spread from Kakamega county to Trans-Nzoia County, webuye especially around Kitale, Tambach in Iten Nandi in areas like kabiyet and kapsisiwa, kericho and to Uasin Gishu County near Turbo, Eldoret.
Among the Tachoni clans are Abachikha -further divided into Abakobolo, Abamuongo, Abachambai, Abamakhanga, Abacharia, and Abakabini, Abamarakalu, Abangachi -who are further divided into: Abawaila, Abakhumaya and Abawele, Abasang'alo, Abasamo, Abayumbu, Abaluu, Abarefu, Abanyangali, Abamuchembi, Abamakhuli, Abasioya, Abaabichu, Abacheo, Abamachina, Abaengele, Abamutama, Abakafusi, Abasonge, Abasaniaka, Abaabiya also known as Abakatumi, Abakubwayi, Abakamutebi, Abakamukong, Abamweya, Abalukulu, Abawande, Abatukiika, Abachimuluku. Note that the morpheme 'aba' means 'people'.
Milo is a sub-location in Sitikho Location of Bungoma County, Kenya. It is headed by Emmanuel Murokoyo. It is located approximately 34 degrees east of the Greenwich Meridian and 30 minutes north of the equator. It is bordered by the Nzoia and Muji rivers. The area is heavily populated, with agriculture being the main economic activity: Maize, millet, sorghum, beans, bananas and sugarcane are some of the crops produced in this area. The population also engages in fishing, livestock keeping and bodaboda operations.
Wycliffe Wafula Wangamati is a Kenyan national and politician who served as the second governor of Bungoma on a Ford Kenya ticket. Wangamati came to power after defeating Kenneth Lusaka in the 2017 election. In the election on August 9, 2022, he was again defeated by Kenneth Lusaka who was then the Speaker of the Senate. Wangamati only ruled Bungoma County for One term.