Nyanza Province
Nyanza
Mkoa wa Nyanza | |
|---|---|
 Location in Kenya. | |
| Coordinates: 0°30′S 34°40′E / 0.500°S 34.667°E | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| No. of Counties: | 6 |
| Capital | Kisumu |
| Area | |
| • Total | 12,477.1 km2 (4,817.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2009 Census) | |
| • Total | 5,442,711 |
| • Density | 440/km2 (1,100/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
Nyanza Province (Kenyan English: [ˈɲaːnzə]; Swahili: Mkoa wa Nyanza) was one of Kenya's eight administrative provinces before the formation of the 47 counties under the 2010 constitution. Six counties were organised in the area of the former province.
The region is located in the southwest part of Kenya around Lake Victoria, includes part of the eastern edge of Lake Victoria, and is inhabited predominantly by the Luo people. There are also Bantu-speaking tribes, such as the Gusii, the Kuria, and some Luhya, living in the province. The province derives its name from Nyanza, a Bantu word which means a large mass of water.
The provincial capital was Kisumu, the third-largest city in Kenya. The province had a population of 4,392,196 at the 1999 census within an area of 16,162 km², or 12,613 km² of land.
The climate is tropical humid.
Counties
The following counties make up the area of the former Nyanza province:
| Code | County | Former Province | Area (km2) | Population Census 2009 |
Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Siaya | Nyanza | 2,496.1 | 842,304 | Siaya |
| 42 | Kisumu | Nyanza | 2,009.5 | 968,909 | Kisumu |
| 43 | Homa Bay | Nyanza | 3,154.7 | 963,794 | Homa Bay |
| 44 | Migori | Nyanza | 2,586.4 | 917,170 | Migori |
| 45 | Kisii | Nyanza | 1,317.9 | 1,152,282 | Kisii |
| 46 | Nyamira | Nyanza | 912.5 | 598,252 | Nyamira |
| Totals | 12,477.1 | 5,442,711 |
Districts after 2007
Several new districts were created in 2007 in Kenya, also in Nyanza Province:[1]
| District | Capital |
|---|---|
| Bondo | Bondo |
| Borabu | Nyansiongo |
| Gucha | Ogembo |
| Homa Bay | Homa Bay |
| Kisii | Kisii |
| Kisumu East | Kisumu town |
| Kisumu West | Holo |
| Kuria West District | Kehancha |
| Kuria East District | Kegonga |
| Manga | |
| Masaba | Keroka |
| Migori | Migori |
| Nyamira | Nyamira |
| Nyando | Awasi |
| Rachuonyo | Kosele |
| Rarieda | Madiany |
| Rongo | Rongo |
| Siaya | Siaya |
| Suba | Sindo |
Languages
The predominant language in Nyanza is Dholuo, a Nilotic language whose origins are from Southern Sudan. It is spoken by the ethnic Luo.
Other languages include Gusii, Luhya, Kuria, and Suba and the national languages of English and Swahili. Other languages from the many Kenyan communities are also spoken in small pockets by migrants from these communities.
Notable residents
- Wycliffe Olang Okech (Ja God-keyo) Works at Medecins Sans Fronties
- Tom Mboya, politician and former minister
- Barack Obama Sr., was born in Nyanza Province. Economist with the government, he was educated in the United States, in Hawaii and Massachusetts. He was the father of the President Barack Obama (2009-2017) of the United States, who was born in Hawaii.
- Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, independence fighter and socialist politician
- Raila Odinga, son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, he is a politician and the leader of Opposition in Kenya.
- Bethwell Allan Ogot, historian
- Achieng Oneko, independence fighter and socialist politician
- Chrispine Otwal, civil engineer, current Chief Civil Engineer of Warren Enterprises, Ltd.[citation needed]
- Robert Ouko, politician and former minister
- James Joshua Nyamori, Advocate, one of the first African Lawyers in Kisumu. He was the father of Hannington Nyamori, a project management specialist and Joshua Odhiambo Nyamori, a local political figure.
- Ismael Atudo, a former student leader at Maseno University, a 2017 Kisumu County Kenya Senate aspirant and the CEO of Nima East Africa Ltd
Villages and settlements
References
External links
- Languages
- https://web.archive.org/web/20060820152345/http://www.yale.edu/swahili/ Swahili- English translation
- Kisii Language - Kisii English- Ekegusii translation
