Kisii District is one of the twelve
districtsThe 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:...
of
Nyanza ProvinceNyanza Province of Kenya, on Lake Victoria, is one of Kenya's seven administrative provinces outside Nairobi; it is in the southwest corner of Kenya. Nyanza includes part of the eastern edge of Lake Victoria and is inhabited predominantly by the Luo. There are also Bantu-speaking tribes such as the...
in southwest
KenyaThe Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. Lying along the Indian Ocean, at the equator, Kenya is bordered by Ethiopia , Somalia , Tanzania , Uganda plus Lake Victoria , and Sudan . The capital city is Nairobi. Kenya spans an area about 85% the size of France or Texas...
, and is divided into five local authorities and eleven administrative districts. The district capital is
KisiiKisii town, located in south-western Kenya, is the main urban and commercial centre in Gusii Highlands. The Kisii municipality has a population of nearly 70,000, according to 2002 estimates. Kisii town is the capital of the Kisii District. The town was formerly the headquarters of the larger Kisii...
. The district is mostly hilly and is dissected by rivers flowing west into
Lake VictoriaLake Victoria or Victoria Nyanza is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named after the United Kingdom's Queen Victoria, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to see the lake....
, notably the River Gucha and River Mogusi. It lacks infrastructure like electricity, telecommunications and good roads, inhibiting the full exploitation of resources.
Kisii District is one of the twelve
districtsThe 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:...
of
Nyanza ProvinceNyanza Province of Kenya, on Lake Victoria, is one of Kenya's seven administrative provinces outside Nairobi; it is in the southwest corner of Kenya. Nyanza includes part of the eastern edge of Lake Victoria and is inhabited predominantly by the Luo. There are also Bantu-speaking tribes such as the...
in southwest
KenyaThe Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. Lying along the Indian Ocean, at the equator, Kenya is bordered by Ethiopia , Somalia , Tanzania , Uganda plus Lake Victoria , and Sudan . The capital city is Nairobi. Kenya spans an area about 85% the size of France or Texas...
, and is divided into five local authorities and eleven administrative districts. The district capital is
KisiiKisii town, located in south-western Kenya, is the main urban and commercial centre in Gusii Highlands. The Kisii municipality has a population of nearly 70,000, according to 2002 estimates. Kisii town is the capital of the Kisii District. The town was formerly the headquarters of the larger Kisii...
. The district is mostly hilly and is dissected by rivers flowing west into
Lake VictoriaLake Victoria or Victoria Nyanza is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named after the United Kingdom's Queen Victoria, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to see the lake....
, notably the River Gucha and River Mogusi. It lacks infrastructure like electricity, telecommunications and good roads, inhibiting the full exploitation of resources. The hilly nature of the district leads to serious soil erosion and makes road communication difficult, especially in the rainy season when many roads (only 10% of which are tarmacked) become impassable.
Climate
Kisii district lies on a highland equatorial climate, and as such it receives rain almost throughout the year, although there are two rainy seasons (March to May and October to November). The average rainfall is over 1500 mm and is quite reliable, helping to support cash crops (such as
coffeeCoffee is a brewed beverage prepared from roasted seeds, commonly called coffee beans, of the coffee plant. They are seeds of "coffee cherries" that grow on trees in over 70 countries. It has been said that green coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world behind crude oil. Due to its...
,
teaTea is the agricultural product of the leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of the Camellia sinensis plant, prepared and cured by various methods...
and
pyrethrumPyrethrum refers to several Old World plants of the genus Chrysanthemum which are cultivated as ornamentals for their showy flower heads. It is also the name of a natural insecticide made from the dried flower heads of C. cinerariifolium and C. coccineum...
) and subsistence crops (
maizeMaize , is a herbaceous plant domesticated in Mesoamerica and subsequently spread throughout the American continents...
, beans,
milletThe millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops or grains, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one. Their essential similarities are that they are small-seeded grasses grown in difficult...
and potatoes). Temperatures can range from 10 °C to 31 °C.
Population
According to the 1979 census Kisii district had a population of 588,000, but by 1996 the annual population growth rate of 3.6% meant that the population is now well over 2,000,000 (19% of whom live in urban areas). This makes Kisii district one of the most densely populated in Kenya, with around 50% of the population being below the age of 15 years. The cause of high population growth is believed to be cultural practices of having many children for security in old age, leading to low use of family planning methods (acceptance is 60-65%). In most areas the sex ratio is disproportionate due to labour migration to other districts and cities.
Health
Health facilities are inadequate, unevenly distributed and lacking in essential medicines. There are a number of hospitals - including the government-run facility in Kisii town and the Mission Hospital in Tabaka - but the bed occupancy rate is 160.3%. The major diseases in Kisii are
malariaMalaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by a eukaryotic protist of the genus Plasmodium. It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Each year, there are approximately 350–500 million cases of malaria, killing between one and...
, anaemia,
pneumoniaPneumonia is an inflammatory illness of the lung. Frequently, it is described as lung parenchyma/alveolar inflammation and abnormal alveolar filling with fluid ....
,
meningitisMeningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
,
tuberculosisTuberculosis is a common and often deadly infectious disease caused by mycobacteria...
,
measlesMeasles is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
and
gastroenteritisGastroenteritis is inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, involving both the stomach and the small intestine and resulting in acute diarrhea...
. The first
AIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus ....
cases in Kenya were recognized in 1984 (1987 in Kisii district), but it is now believed that 1 in every 18 adults is infected with
HIVHuman immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections. Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid,...
in all areas. Over 70% of AIDS cases are aged 20–49 years, the most economically active age group and also the best educated and skilled. Infant mortality has been declining for several years and the acceptance of immunization programs is increasing, but a large proportion of children are believed stunted due to poor nutrition. Water is easily available from rivers, wells, springs, roof catchments and boreholes, although the only treated water supply is found in Kisii Municipality. In recent years Kisii highland has had new water treatment stations among others one at Birongo serving parts of Nyaribari central and chache and also Kitutu Masaba.
Economy
Due to the high population density, almost all land in Kisii district is put to maximum agricultural use. Land is subdivided within families, meaning that plots are becoming ever-smaller and the average farm is only 15,000 m² in area. This has ensured that a large population of kisiis' migrate to neighbouring districts and far flung countries to bring home the bacon. Intensive farming in hilly regions has increased the rate of soil degradation and erosion, while the application of farm chemicals has polluted surface and groundwater sources. More than 90% of rural household energy needs come from wood, but the district is no longer self-reliant and other sources such as
biogasBiogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Biogas originates from biogenic material and is a type of biofuel....
are being encouraged. Tea and coffee processing and soda bottling constitute Kisii district's manufacturing industry, but retail and wholesale businesses exist in market centres despite the lack of cooling facilities for preserving perishables. The annual growth rate in paid employment is 3.5%, but this is barely keeping up with the current population growth rate. There are many societies such as Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) concentrated in Kisii Town according to members' occupations or primary cash crop as well. The informal sector is involved in repair, metal fabrication, furniture making and the sale of secondhand clothes, while the soapstone which is found in the area of Tabaka provides a reasonable resource for the carving industry.
Income is unevenly distributed, with an average income per capita of Ksh. 2000 (approximately £20, US$30 in 2006), although most appear to earn Ksh. 1000-1500. Many live below the poverty line, but actual figures are available for urban areas only.
Education
In 1993 there were 679 primary schools and 134 secondary schools in the district, and enrollment is increasing. Most schools in Kisii district lack science laboratories and many teachers are not fully trained, reducing the ability of pupils to complete their education. Female enrollment in secondary school is at 45%, while adult literacy is 56% (high in relation to much of Kenya). However, given that fees for secondary school are in excess of Ksh. 5000 per year, for most children primary school is the highest level of education open to them. Private schools have grown in number in the district. They often do better in the region. Some parents perceive that public school teachers do not take their child's future seriously.
A renowned school, Cardinal Otunga High School, Mosocho, in the outskirts of Kisii Town, has been a marvel in the community. Founded by catholic missionaries, it has produced some of the most brilliant leaders in the country.
Subdivisions
| Local authorities (councils) |
|
| Authority |
Type |
Population* |
Urban pop.* |
KisiiKisii town, located in south-western Kenya, is the main urban and commercial centre in Gusii Highlands. The Kisii municipality has a population of nearly 70,000, according to 2002 estimates. Kisii town is the capital of the Kisii District. The town was formerly the headquarters of the larger Kisii...
|
Municipality |
59,248 |
25,634 |
| Keroka |
Town |
44,861 |
3,720 |
| Masimba |
Town |
40,218 |
1,666 |
| Suneka |
Town |
43,908 |
4,217 |
| Gusii |
County |
303,551 |
0 |
| |
| Administrative divisions |
|
| Division |
Population* |
Urban pop.* |
Headquarters |
| Keumbu |
109,837 |
8,843 |
Keumbu |
| Kisii township |
37,531 |
12,439 |
KisiiKisii town, located in south-western Kenya, is the main urban and commercial centre in Gusii Highlands. The Kisii municipality has a population of nearly 70,000, according to 2002 estimates. Kisii town is the capital of the Kisii District. The town was formerly the headquarters of the larger Kisii...
|
| Marani |
89,215 |
0 |
Marani |
| Masaba |
105,926 |
908 |
Masimba |
| Mosocho |
63,247 |
0 |
Nyakoe |
| Suneka |
86,030 |
3,723 |
Suneka |
| |
The district has four constituencies:
- Nyaribari Chache Constituency
Nyaribare Chache is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of four constituencies in Kisii District. The constituency was established for the 1988 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...
- Kitutu Chache Constituency
Kitutu Chache is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of four constituencies in Kisii District. The constituency was established for the 1988 elections....
- Bonchari Constituency
Bonchari is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of four constituencies in Kisii District. The constituency was established for the 1988 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...
- Nyaribari Masaba Constituency
Nyaribari Masaba is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of four constituencies in Kisii District. The constituency was established for the 1988 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...
See also
- Gucha District
Gucha District is a district in Nyanza Province, western Kenya. It is also known by the name: South Kisii District or Ogembo District. Its population is approximately 461,000...
(South Kisii District)
- Nyamira District (North Kisii District)
- Kiamokama
Kiamokama is a small farming community in South West Of Kenya in the Kisii District, Nyanza Province.- People:Most of the people in Kiamokama are Abagusii. They speak Ekegusii, swahili and English...
, located in Kisii District
External links