Rongo, Kenya

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Rongo or Rongo town is located in the southwestern part of Kenya in Migori County, Kenya. It is situated approximately 30 kilometers northeast of Migori town along the Kisii-Migori highway.

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Rongo has a diverse population that includes the Luo community, which is the dominant ethnic group, along with other communities. The population is a mix of locals and individuals from different parts of Kenya, especially due to the university and other business opportunities.

In the 2009 National Census, Rongo had a total population of 82,066 with 12,355 in the urban core [1] and by 2019, the population had grown to 124,587, according to the National Census. [2]

Rongo attracts lots of investors due to its massive gold mineral deposits since decades and also due to its positioning along the highway that connects Kenya to Tanzania through Sirare/Isbania Border post. In 2023, construction of the Rongo - Kisii road stalled temporarily after area residents discovered gold deposits in murram that was excavated to pave way for the construction. [3]

Infrastructure

Economy

Education

Aerial view of Rongo University main campus Org 0e8fc3d781e6e635 1593078460000.jpg
Aerial view of Rongo University main campus

Rongo town is the home for Rongo University. Rongo University (RU), formerly Rongo University College, is a public university and was awarded Charter to full fledged university by H.E. Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of the Republic of Kenya on 7 October 2016. The University derives its mandate from the Rongo University Charter of 7 October 2016, which stipulates the objects and functions including teaching research and community service.

Rongo University (RU) is located 8 km outside Rongo town. It was formerly a constituent college of Moi University. RU was founded in 2011. The site was formerly used as Moi Institute of Technology, established in 1981. [4] Rongo is also home to St. Magdalene Teachers College.

Social and Cultural Life

References

  1. Volume 1A-Population Distribution by Administrative Units, Population and Housing Census 2009, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics
  2. "2019 Kenya population and housing census - population by county and sub-county" (PDF). November 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-05-21.
  3. "Gold Rush as residents dig up sections of the ongoing Isebania-Migori-Kisii road project". www.kenyanews.go.ke. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  4. History, Rongo University College

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