Siaya County

Siaya County
Siaya Kababa
Flag of Siaya County
Coat of arms of Siaya County
Location in Kenya
Location in Kenya
Country Kenya
Formed4 March 2013
CapitalSiaya
Government
 • GovernorJames Orengo
Area
 • Total2,496.1 km2 (963.7 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total993,183[1]
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)
Websitesiaya.go.ke

Siaya County is one of the counties in the former Nyanza Province in western Kenya. It is bordered by Busia County to the north, Kakamega County, and Vihiga County to the northeast and Kisumu County to the southeast. It shares a water border with Homa Bay County which is located south of Siaya County. The total area of the county is approximately 2,496.1 km2. The county lies between latitude 0° 26' to 0° 18' north and longitude 33° 58' east and 34° 33' west. Siaya has been split up into six new districts. Under the 2010 Constitution, the role of the districts is still unclear as much of the administrative authority was transferred to the county. The capital is Siaya, although the largest town is Bondo.

Demographics[edit]

The population in the year 2019 was 993,183.[2]

Administrative divisions
Division Population* Urban pop.* Area Sub-locations Headquarters
Boro 47,455 0 180.1 km2 12 Boro
Karemo 76,986 12,611 235.1 km2 17 Siaya
Ugunja 77,006 3,382 198.8 km2 21 Ugunja
Ukwala 98,912 487 319.5 km2 28 Ukwala
Uranga 41,564 0 183.4 km2 13
Wagai 54,438 0 193.3 km2 18
Yala 83,823 2,165 209.8 km2 19 Yala
Ndori 67,543 4,532 432.6 km2 2 Ndori
Total 480,184 18,645 1,520 km2 128 -
* 1999 census. Sources: [1], [2], also added from District Commissioner's Office, Siaya 2001

Religion[edit]

Religion in Siaya County [3]

Religion (2019 Census) Number
Catholicismy 226,455
Protestant 224,860
Evangelical Churches 225,650
African instituted Churches 236,416
Orthodox 7,426
Other Cristian 34,443
Islam 4,994
Hindu 25
Traditionists 2,526
Other 16,993
No ReligionAtheists 8,614
Don't Know 1,07
Not Stated 233

Government[edit]

In the 2007 elections the county, then district, had five constituencies: Alego Constituency, Gem Constituency, Rarieda Constituency, Bondo Constituency and Ugenya Constituency.

As of 2013, the county was made up of six constituencies namely Alego Usonga, Bondo, Gem, Rarieda, Ugenya, and Ugunja.[4]

Elections[edit]

At the 2007 parliamentary elections all five seats were won by Orange Democratic Movement.

Governors

Elections Governor Party Notes
2013 Cornel Amoth Rasanga ODM High Court in Kisumu nullified the election on 23 August 2013.[5]
George Okode County Assembly Speaker elevated to acting governor on 3 September 2013.[6][7]

Villages and Settlements[edit]

  • Lwak, a key village in Asembo, Rarieda constituency. Notably settled by prominent ancient elders whose impact transcends across generations till date. Some include: Mzee Oracha, the man who donated his land for the establishment of the now Lwak institutions (Catholic Church, St. Mary’s Lwak High, Lwak Girls Primary, Lwak Mixed, Lwak Convent, Lwak Hospital); Mzee Johnson Charles Ogada Ogolla (Mong’ith), a Christian philanthropist from Asembo Kanyikela Clan who, during Kenya’s post-colonial period served as a senior official in prisons (equivalent to modern day Chief Inspector Police), Mzee Charles prominently championed the sponsoring of the education of many unrecorded numbers of students, a role which saw him serve as the Chairman of the Board of innumerable High Schools such as Siger in his lifetime; Chwang’u the industrial family which oversaw the establishment of various business in the now growing Lwak Market.
  • Tieng’a, a village in Uyoma, Rarieda Constituency where the freedom fighter and a member of Kapenguria Six, Achieng Oneko was born. He also served as the second Member of Parliament of Rarieda Constituency.
  • Ujwang'a, a village in Siaya sub-location North East Ugenya location East Ugenya Ward of Siaya County
  • Anyieka
  • Ndori, a prominent roadside market located in Asembo and acts as a gateway connecting Asembo, Gem, Bondo, and Sakwa.
  • Oyude, a small sleepy market serving villages in Oyude/Asembo along the Ndori-Owimbi road in Rarieda Constituency. Oyude is predominantly occupied by the K’Ochieng Clan.
  • Kamito, an undeniably pronounced maritime village located by the Bay of Asembo. Mostly supports fishing activities in Asembo Bay in Rarieda Constituency.
  • Nyabera, a village in South Central sub-location, Obambo location, Boro division in Alego Usonga Constituency.
  • Aram, a major market and a key trading vortex weaving together the surrounding villages of the peoples of Asembo and Uyoma, both in Rarieda Constituency.
  • Nyayiera, a village in Central Asembo location, Rarieda Constituency, Siaya County.
  • Masiro, a sparsely populated village in Ugenya Constituency, Masiro endured several challenges including impassably horrible road network, and lack of electricity.
  • Nyamninia, a village in Yala division of Siaya County
  • Nyang'oma Kogelo, a village in Karemo Division of Siaya County
  • Bondo Kolalo, a village in Sihay Division, Ugenya sub county of Siaya County
  • Karadolo
  • Sidindi, a village in Ugunja Constituency of Siaya County.
  • Sigul, a village in Sihay Division, Ugenya sub county of Siaya County.
  • Nyagondo, a village in Wagai Division, Gem Sub-County.
  • Lihanda, a village in East Gem Ward in Siaya County.
  • Naya, a village in South Uyoma ward, Madiany division, Rarieda Sub-County in Siaya County
  • Simerro, A village in Rangala Sub Location, Sidindi Ward, Ugunja Sub Sounty in Siaya County.
  • Nyamila, A village in Nyamila Sub Location, North Alego Location, the birthplace of the late criminal lawyer Silvanus Melea Otieno and the late Reverend Elisha Otieno Wauna
  • Kagilo is a village in Central Gem.
  • Got Regea, where the first black Kenyan cabinet minister in the Colonial Period was born in 1913- Mr. Appolo Ohanga
  • Ukalama, a village in Ugunja sub-county, Sigomere division, North Uholo location, Tingare East sub-location.
  • Nyabenge, a village in Abom sublocation, North Sakwa location.
  • Memba, a village in Asembo, Rarieda Constituency.
  • Kanyiner/Kanyinek, a village which houses Ugenya High School and can by accessed from Ligega on the Kisumu-Busia highway.
  • Madiany, a village in Asembo, Rarieda Constituency.
  • Maugo

Ethnicity[edit]

Majority of the population consist of members of the Luo tribe.

Notable Secondary Schools[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Kenya Census 2009 - Kenya - Census" – via Scribd.
  2. ^ "SIAYA".
  3. ^ "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics" (PDF). Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  4. ^ "3 Candidates each for Siaya and Kibwezi polls". Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. 20 September 2013. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013.
  5. ^ "Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga loses seat". Daily Nation. Kenya.
  6. ^ "Gazette Notice No. 12736". The Kenya Gazette. CXV (131). Republic of Kenya: 4432. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  7. ^ Otieno, Ricky (5 September 2013). "Speaker to Act As Governor for Siaya". The Star (Kenya). Retrieved 14 September 2013.

External links[edit]

0°05′S 34°15′E / 0.083°S 34.250°E / -0.083; 34.250