Bungoma District
Encyclopedia
Bungoma District is a district
in the Western Province
of Kenya
. Its capital town is Bungoma
. It has a population of 876,491 and an area of 2,069 km².
The economy of Bungoma district is mainly agricultural, centering on the sugar cane 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.
The Bukusu
who occupy much of the District 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 the 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), Luka Namulala (community fore teller), among others. Among the women that have stood out include Dinah Khayota (former women leader), Justice Ruth Nekoye and lawyer Nancy Barasa among others.
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
and Ford-Kenya. In recent years, the larger Bungoma District has been subdivided into four Districts, Bungoma East (with headquarters at Webuye), Bungoma North (Mukuyuni), Bungoma West (Chwele
) and Bungoma South (Bungoma town). The total Population of the 4 Districts is currently estimated to be 1.4 million people. This large population coupled with rural unemployment has started to put pressure on land and other natural resources.
There are a number of non-governmental organizations currently working in Bungoma. SACRED Africa (www.sacredafrica.com) started by Dr Juma Mukhwana has established an agricultural research and training center at Siritanyi campus on the outskirts of Bungoma town. SACRED Africa works with farmers to improve smallholder agricultural productivity and marketing while protecting and enhancing the environment. 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.
Several Universities have also opened campuses in the area. These include Moi University (working with SACRED training Institute, www.sti.or.ke), Masinde Muliro University and Kenyatta University among others.
The district has five constituencies:
Districts of Kenya
The provinces of Kenya are subdivided into number of districts .- List of districts of Kenya :Following a High Court ruling in September 2009, there are 46 legal districts in Kenya :Coast Province:...
in the Western Province
Western Province (Kenya)
The Western Province of Kenya, bordering Uganda, is one of Kenya's seven administrative provinces outside Nairobi. It is west of the Eastern Rift Valley and is inhabited mainly by the Luhya people. Quakerism is widely practised here. Kenya's second highest mountain, Mount Elgon is located in...
of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. Its capital town is Bungoma
Bungoma
Bungoma is a town in Western Province of Kenya, bordered by Uganda in the west. Bungoma town was established as a trading centre in the early 20th century. The town is the headquarters of Kenya's Bungoma District and it hosts a municipal council...
. It has a population of 876,491 and an area of 2,069 km².
The economy of Bungoma district is mainly agricultural, centering on the sugar cane 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.
The Bukusu
Bukusu
Bukusu can refer to:*Bukusu people, an indigenous tribe of Kenya*Bukusu language, a Bantu language spoken by the Bukusu people...
who occupy much of the District 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 the late Hon Wamalwa Kijana (former vice president), the late Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga
Maurice Michael Otunga
Maurice Michael Otunga , Cardinal and Archbishop emeritus of Nairobi and Military Ordinary emeritus for Kenya, was born in Chebukwa, diocese of Kakamega, Kenya.-Early life and ordination:...
(head of the Catholic Church in Kenya), the late Elijah Masinde
Elijah Masinde
Elijah Masinde was a traditional leader of the Bukusu people of western Kenya.-Early life:...
(founder of Dini ya Musambwa), Sudi Namachanja (chief during colonial days), Luka Namulala (community fore teller), among others. Among the women that have stood out include Dinah Khayota (former women leader), Justice Ruth Nekoye and lawyer Nancy Barasa among others.
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
Orange Democratic Movement
Orange Democratic Movement refers to a political party in Kenya, which is the successor of a former grassroots people's movement which was formed in the 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum. The erstwhile single party which separated in August 2007 into two...
, PNU
Party of National Unity (Kenya)
Party of National Unity was founded as a political coalition of parties in Kenya. On September 16, 2007, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki announced the party formation and said that he would run as its presidential candidate in the December 2007 Kenyan elections...
and Ford-Kenya. In recent years, the larger Bungoma District has been subdivided into four Districts, Bungoma East (with headquarters at Webuye), Bungoma North (Mukuyuni), Bungoma West (Chwele
Chwele
Chwele is a town in the Western Province of Kenya. The town is an agricultural marketing centre located between Kimilili and Bungoma. The market is the major meeting point for farmers from the surrounding areas of Mt. Elgon, Namwela, Sirisia, Lurende,[Matibo] and Chebukaka especially every Monday...
) and Bungoma South (Bungoma town). The total Population of the 4 Districts is currently estimated to be 1.4 million people. This large population coupled with rural unemployment has started to put pressure on land and other natural resources.
There are a number of non-governmental organizations currently working in Bungoma. SACRED Africa (www.sacredafrica.com) started by Dr Juma Mukhwana has established an agricultural research and training center at Siritanyi campus on the outskirts of Bungoma town. SACRED Africa works with farmers to improve smallholder agricultural productivity and marketing while protecting and enhancing the environment. One Acre Fund
One Acre Fund
One Acre Fund is an organization that aims to help poor East African farmers emerge from persistent poverty and hunger by increasing their farm-based incomes. They do this by introducing more profitable crops and farming techniques to farmers and by providing farming inputs in exchange for a share...
, 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.
Several Universities have also opened campuses in the area. These include Moi University (working with SACRED training Institute, www.sti.or.ke), Masinde Muliro University and Kenyatta University among others.
Administration
| Local authorities (councils) | |||
| Authority | Type | Population* | Urban pop.* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bungoma Bungoma Bungoma is a town in Western Province of Kenya, bordered by Uganda in the west. Bungoma town was established as a trading centre in the early 20th century. The town is the headquarters of Kenya's Bungoma District and it hosts a municipal council... |
Municipality | 60,650 | 44,196 |
| Kimilili Kimilili Kimilili is a town and area in Kenya's Bungoma District. The area is occupied mainly by the Bukusu and Sabaot communities. Its proximity to the fertile slopes of Mt Elgon, on the Kenya-Uganda border, has made it a trading center for agricultural goods and services... |
Municipality | 71,299 | 10,261 |
| Webuye Webuye Webuye is an industrial town in Bungoma District in the Western Province of Kenya. Located on the main road to Uganda, the town is home to the Pan African Paper Mills, the largest paper factory in the region, as well as a number of heavy-chemical and sugar manufacturers. It has a tropical climate,... |
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 |
| Administrative divisions | |||
| Division | Population* | Urban pop.* | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bumula | 129,011 | 0 | |
| Central | 60,605 | 0 | |
| Chwele Chwele Chwele is a town in the Western Province of Kenya. The town is an agricultural marketing centre located between Kimilili and Bungoma. The market is the major meeting point for farmers from the surrounding areas of Mt. Elgon, Namwela, Sirisia, Lurende,[Matibo] and Chebukaka especially every Monday... |
41,174 | 2,677 | Chwele Chwele Chwele is a town in the Western Province of Kenya. The town is an agricultural marketing centre located between Kimilili and Bungoma. The market is the major meeting point for farmers from the surrounding areas of Mt. Elgon, Namwela, Sirisia, Lurende,[Matibo] and Chebukaka especially every Monday... |
| Kanduyi | 163,568 | 38,407 | Bungoma Bungoma Bungoma is a town in Western Province of Kenya, bordered by Uganda in the west. Bungoma town was established as a trading centre in the early 20th century. The town is the headquarters of Kenya's Bungoma District and it hosts a municipal council... |
| Kimilili | 96,674 | 9,631 | Kimilili Kimilili Kimilili is a town and area in Kenya's Bungoma District. The area is occupied mainly by the Bukusu and Sabaot communities. Its proximity to the fertile slopes of Mt Elgon, on the Kenya-Uganda border, has made it a trading center for agricultural goods and services... |
| 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 Webuye Webuye is an industrial town in Bungoma District in the Western Province of Kenya. Located on the main road to Uganda, the town is home to the Pan African Paper Mills, the largest paper factory in the region, as well as a number of heavy-chemical and sugar manufacturers. It has a tropical climate,... |
| Total | 876,491 | 79,490 | - |
The district has five constituencies:
- Kimilili ConstituencyKimilili ConstituencyKimilili Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of five constituencies in Bungoma District. The constituency was established for the 1988 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...
- Webuye ConstituencyWebuye ConstituencyWebuye Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of five constituencies in Bungoma District. The constituency was established for the 1988 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...
- Sirisia ConstituencySirisia ConstituencySirisia Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of five constituencies in Bungoma District. The constituency was established for the 1988 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Locations and wards :...
- Kanduyi ConstituencyKanduyi ConstituencyKanduyi Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of five constituencies in Bungoma District. The constituency was established for the 1988 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...
- Bumula ConstituencyBumula ConstituencyBumula Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of five constituencies in Bungoma District. The constituency was established for the 1997 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...