Bungoma County

For the town, see Bungoma.
Bungoma County
County

Location in Kenya
Country  Kenya
Formed March 4th 2013
Capital Bungoma
Government
 • Governor Ken Lusaka
Area
 • Total 2,206.9 km2 (852.1 sq mi)
Population (2009)
 • Total 1,375,063 [1]
Time zone EAT (UTC+3)
Website bungoma.go.ke

Bungoma County is a county in the former Western Province of Kenya. Its capital is Bungoma or Bungoma Town. It has a population of 1,375,063 [2] and an area of 2,069 km².[3] In 2010, the neighbouring Mount Elgon District was eliminated and its lands merged with Bungoma District to form Bungoma County.

The economy of Bungoma County is mainly agricultural, centering on the sugarcane and maize industries. The area experiences high rainfall throughout the year, and is home to several large rivers, which are used for small-scale irrigation.

People

The Bukusu who occupy much of the county are resilient and flamboyant people who stood up against British rule in the late 19th century. In a war that erupted at Lumboka and eventually ended at Chetambe near Webuye, the Bukusu bitterly resisted British rule. They are farmers who practice both livestock and crop farmers. And an early British traveler described them as such when he visited in 1876 "on the East of the Mountain, there are the Bukusu who are greater livestock breeders and keepers".

The Bukusu have produced many prominent people that have served in the Kenyan public life among them H.E. Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi (Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD), the late Hon Masinde Muliro( Founder Member of original KADU independence party, Founder member of FORD party) late Hon Wamalwa Kijana (former vice president), the late Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga (head of the Catholic Church in Kenya), the late Elijah Masinde (founder of Dini ya Musambwa), Sudi Namachanja (chief during colonial days), Hon.Lawrence Sifuna( Second-Liberation hero in the struggle for multiparty democracy in Kenya),Luka Namulala (community fore teller), among others. Among the women that have stood out include Dinah Khayota (former women leader), Justice Ruth Nekoye, lawyer Nancy Barasa and Beatrice Kituyi ( a prominent lawyer and former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour) among others.A number of notable young leaders has emerged from Bungoma County such as former student leaders like Wafula Buke and Fwamba NC Fwamba.

Political

Politically, over the last 17 years or so the community have been members of Ford-Kenya, the party formerly headed by Wamalwa Kijana. Through this party the community has been able to express and participate in national politics. More recently community members now have MPs drawn from ODM, PNU,Ford-Kenya and New-Ford-Kenya.Currently,notable political figures include Governor Kenneth Lusaka,Senator Moses Wetangula among others.

Population

This large population of approximately 1.4 million, coupled with rural unemployment has started to put pressure on land and other natural resources.

NGOs

There are a number of non-governmental organizations currently working in Bungoma. One Acre Fund, in an effort to improve farming incomes, is introducing more profitable crops and farming techniques to farmers and providing farming inputs in exchange for a share of future revenues.

Education

Several universities have also opened campuses in the area including Moi University, Masinde Muliro University, Kenyatta University and Kibabii University.

Services and urbanisation

Stats for Bungoma County
County
Stats for the County (Percent)
Urbanisation
21.7
Literacy
60.5
Attending School (15-18 Yrs)
87.6
Paved Roads
6
Good Roads
46.7
Electricity Access
4.5
Poverty Rate
52.9

Stats for the County

Source: USAid Kenya

Administration

Local authorities (councils)
Authority Type Population* Urban pop.*
Bungoma Municipality 60,650 44,196
Kimilili Municipality 71,299 10,261
Webuye Municipality 48,806 19,606
Malakisi Town 38,004 3,762
Sirisia Town 22,703 822
Bungoma County County 635,029 10,852
Total - 876,491 89,499
* 1999 census. Source:
Administrative divisions
Division Population* Urban pop.* Headquarters
Bumula 129,011 0
Central 60,605 0
Chwele 41,174 2,677 Chwele
Kanduyi 163,568 38,407 Bungoma
Kimilili 96,674 9,631 Kimilili
Malakisi 36,042 3,341 Malakisi
Ndivisi 57,336 1,905
Sirisia 44,088 769 Sirisia
Tongaren 133,296 5,313
Webuye 114,697 18,257 Webuye
Total 876,491 79,490 -
* 1999 census. Sources:[4][5]

The county has five constituencies:

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.scribd.com/doc/36672705/Kenya-Census-2009
  2. ↑ http://www.scribd.com/doc/36672705/Kenya-Census-2009
  3. ↑ statoids.com – Districts of Kenya
  4. ↑ Communications Commission of Kenya
  5. ↑ International Livestock Research Institute – Urban Poverty (.xls)

Coordinates: 0°35′N 34°35′E / 0.583°N 34.583°E / 0.583; 34.583

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