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Siaya County

Coordinates: 0°05′S 34°15′E / 0.083°S 34.250°E / -0.083; 34.250
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Siaya.

Siaya County
Siaya
County
Flag of Siaya County
Flag
Coat of arms of Siaya County
Coat of arms
Location in Kenya
Location in Kenya
Country Kenya
Formed4 March 2013
CapitalSiaya
Government
 • GovernorJames Orengo
Area
 • Total
2,496.1 km2 (963.7 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total
993,183[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 (sub-counties). 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, town, 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
Catholicism 226,455
Christians

(Evangelical Protestants)

450,510
African Diviners 236,416
Orthodox 7,426
Other Christians 34,443
Islam 4,994
Hindu 25
Witchcraft 2,526
Other 16,993
No Religion 8,614
Don't Know 107
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 Johnson Charles Ogada Ogolla (popularly known as Ogada Mong’ith), a Christian philanthropist from Asembo Kanyikela Clan who after attending college at Siriba College (now Maseno University), he served as a senior official in prisons during Kenya’s post-colonial period (equivalent to modern day Chief Inspector Police). The son of Ogola K’Andang’o and Ojalo NyaKathomo, Mzee Ogada was the first author of the first Luo-English dictionary which was allegedly stolen by a Dutch man and later published in the Netherlands. Mzee Charles was also a secret confidant of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who often turned to him to organize secret underground railroad systems of hiding his son Raila Amollo Odinga and Raila’s sister Akinyi Odinga whenever they were pursued by the government of the day during Moi’s regime. He was also known to be a great mentor and close Uncle to the former Member of Parliament for Rarieda and Gubernatorial Contestant for Siaya County, Nicholas Gumbo and the Cabinet Secretary for ICT Mr. Eliud Owalo. 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. He was a staunch Christian who, together with his family also played a key role in standing with Mzee Mariko Tindi in the setting up of St. Marks Anglican Church in Mahaya; Second among many is Mzee Oracha Rambo, a friend of Mzee Andang’o (great-grandfather of Mzee Charles Ogada). Mzee Oracha Rambo is 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).
  • Migowa, a small village in Katweng'a, Uyoma, Rarieda Constituency.
  • 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, 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, Asembo Bay, Rarieda Constituency.
  • Nyabera, a village in South Central sub-location, Obambo location, Boro division, 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, Siaya County
  • Nyang'oma Kogelo, a village in Karemo Division, Siaya County
  • Bondo Kolalo, a village in Sihay Division, Ugenya sub county, Siaya County
  • Karadolo
  • Sidindi, a village in Ugunja Constituency, Siaya County.
  • Sigul, a village in Sihay Division, Ugenya sub county, Siaya County.
  • Nyagondo, a village in Wagai Division, Gem Sub-County.
  • Lihanda, a village in East Gem Ward, Siaya County.
  • Naya, a village in South Uyoma ward, Madiany division, Rarieda Sub-County, Siaya County
  • Simerro, A village in Rangala Sub Location, Sidindi Ward, Ugunja Sub Sounty, 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 & Notable People

[edit]

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

Notable People of Siaya County Include:

  1. Argwings Kodhek
  2. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
  3. Oracha Rambo
  4. Andang’o Jabilo
  5. Chief Odera Akang’o
  6. Achieng Oneko
  7. S.M Otieno
  8. Barack Obama Sr.
  9. Nicholas Gumbo
  10. William Odongo Omamo
  11. Eric Gumbo
  12. Barack Obama
  13. Bethwell Ogot
  14. Grace Ogot
  15. Johnson Charles Ogada Ogola
  16. Raphael Tuju
  17. James Aggrey Orengo
  18. George Owino
  19. Raila Amollo Odinga
  20. Oburu Odinga
  21. Washington Jakoyo Midiwo
  22. Prof. George Omore Magoha
  23. Asenath Bole Odaga
  24. Mariko Tindi
  25. Eliud Owalo
  26. William Oduol Denge
  27. Dr. Amoth Rasanga
  28. Cornel Rasanga Amoth
  29. Joash Olum
  30. Prof Jacob Ogweno Midiwo
  31. Prof John Awange
  32. David Wasawo
  33. Madara Ogot
  34. PLO Lumumba
  35. Larry Madowo
  36. Opiyo Wandayi
  37. Prof Thomas Odhiambo
  38. Dr. Oki Ooko Ombaka


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.
[edit]

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

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