Western Province ( Swahili : Magharibi ) was one of Kenya's seven administrative provinces outside Nairobi . It is inhabited mainly by the Luhya people. Quakerism is widely practised here . Kenya's second highest mountain, Mount Elgon is located in Bungoma District . The Kakamega Forest rainforest is part of the area. The province capital was Kakamega . After the 2013 general election , and the coming into effect of kenya's new constitution , provinces became defunct and the country is currently divided into 47 counties . Each county has its own government and therefore there is no central regional capital. Western Province became the Western region, comprising four counties: Kakamega , Bungoma , Vihiga , and Busia .
20-448: Busia is a county in the former Western Province of Kenya. It is located directly east of the border town of Busia, Uganda , and borders Lake Victoria to the southwest, Siaya County to the southeast, and Bungoma County and Kakamega County to the east. The county is composed of six sub-counties, and had a population of 893,681 as of the most recent census in 2019. Beginning in 1994, Busia became an epicenter of economic research as
40-520: A mixture of both subsistence and cash crop farming, with sugar cane being the preferred medium to large scale crop. The County has two sugar factories. There is also a significant tourism industry centering on Kakamega Forest. Busia County experiences perennial floods from the Nzoia River , and the dominant economic activity is fishing on Lake Victoria. Limited commercial farming is also practiced, mainly of sugar cane. Subsistence farming of cassava
60-463: Is Busia law court located in the town of Busia. Busia County has a total of 81 health facilities, out of this 1 county referral hospital, 6 sub-county hospitals, 12 health centres, 49 dispensaries, 10 Medical Clinics, 6 Nursing Homes and 1 in the other categories. Common diseases in the county include Malaria, Respiratory Diseases, and diarrhoea. Busia county has a total of 735 pre-primary schools, 551 primary schools, 152 secondary schools. As at 2014
80-746: Is a Kenyan University located in Teso South Constituency , seven kilometres (4.3 mi) from Busia Town in Busia County . The university was established through the Alupe University College Order 2015, which was on a Gazette Notice Number 163 of 24 July 2015. Alupe University was established on 24 July 2015. It is the only public university in Busia County . It was originally the Alupe campus of Moi University and later changed to Alupe University College,
100-406: Is also a substantial population of Luo and Iteso residents. Busia County is made up of seven administrative sub-counties, thirty-five county ward assemblies, sixty locations and one hundred and eighty-one sub-locations. Sub-Counties Sospeter Ojaamong has been governor since being first elected in 2013 and he will finish his second term in 2022 and thus not eligible to run for the seat. He
120-571: Is bordered to the south by Lake Victoria with some rivers pouring water into it. the rivers include River Nzoia in Budalangi and River Sio in Samia. There are several hills in Nambuku, Odiado Hills and Funyula. Several swamps are also located across the county with species such as crocodiles, hippos, and multiple types of fish. There are also some leopards and antelopes that are usually spotted across
140-430: Is chaired by the speaker who is elected by the assembly currently Bernard Wamalwa. County governor, deputy county governor and Busia county departments headed by county executive committee members and chief officers. Busia county assembly comprises 35 elected MCA and nominated MCA the assembly is chaired by county assembly speaker, currently Bernard Wamalwa. The judiciary of Busia is exercised by Kenyan judiciary. There
160-436: Is commonly used but most residents speak their native mother tongue that is either Luhya or Iteso language Busia county has a total population of 893,681 persons. Of this 426,252 are female, 467,401 are male, and 28 people were reported as intersex . The county has a population density of 527 persons with an average household size of 4.5 persons. Source Though most residents of Busia County are ethnically Luhya , there
180-448: Is the main economic activity in the province. Bungoma County is sugar country, with one of the country's largest sugar factories, as well as numerous small-holder sugar mills. Maize is also grown for subsistence, alongside pearl millet and sorghum . Dairy farming is widely practised, as well as the raising of poultry. There is a small but important tourist circuit, centering on the biennial circumcision ceremonies. Kakamega County has
200-511: Is widely practiced. Vihiga County has large tea plantations, and is the most densely populated rural area in Kenya. Quarrying for construction materials is a significant activity in the hilly County. Dairy farming is also widely practiced in Vihiga. Western Kenya has many large factories, including sugar processing plants (4 factories). The largest of these is Mumias Sugar, based at Mumias , to
220-534: The "birthplace for this [the RCT ] movement", with more than 27 experiments ongoing as of 2024. Busia County is part of Western Kenya. It has been commonly inhabited by the Luhya tribe of Kenya particularly the minority tribe of Iteso. Prior to being a county, it was known as Busia district before more districts were created by then President Mwai Kibaki . Busia County borders Uganda to the west. The Samia people of Busia are
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#1732771930688240-407: The 2009 decennial census. The climate is mainly tropical , with variations due to altitude. Kakamega County is mainly hot and wet most of the year, while Bungoma County is colder but just as wet. Busia County is the warmest, while the hilly Vihiga County is the coldest. The entire province experiences very heavy rainfall all year round, with the long rains in the earlier months of the year. Farming
260-759: The County Source: USAid Kenya 0°26′N 34°9′E / 0.433°N 34.150°E / 0.433; 34.150 Western Province (Kenya) Kakamega is the seat of government for Kakamega County, Bungoma County has its seat in Bungoma town, Busia County has the Assembly in Busia , Vihiga County in Vihiga Town . All the County governments and governors are answerable to
280-515: The county had an enrolment 255,008 students in primary schools and 41,332 students in secondary schools. Alupe University College is the only public university in Busia County. The county has 470 km of earth roads, 740 km of murram roads and 312 km of bitumen roads. A total of seven postal offices are spread across the county with 3,200 letter boxes installed, 2,284 letter boxes rented and 916 letter boxes vacant. Stats for
300-487: The county. The county's climatic conditions are greatly affected by Lake Victoria which borders it to the south western part. We have short and long rains. The main type of rainfall experienced in the county is convectional rainfall. Busia often experiences a hot and wet climate. Most residents are Christian with few Muslims and African believers. The Kenya national languages are English and Swahili, in Busia county Swahili
320-665: The location of one of the first successful randomized controlled trials in development economics , evaluating the efficacy of a school-based deworming program in improving health and educational outcomes. The research inspired the Deworm the World Initiative , which since 2014 has provided 1.8 billion deworming treatments to children around the world. Dean Karlan , chief economist of the United States Agency for International Development , has described Busia as
340-540: The people not to the national government. Western Region has diverse physical features, from the hills of northern Bungoma County to the plains bordering Lake Victoria in Busia County . The highest point in the Western Region of Kenya is the peak of Mount Elgon , while the lowest point is the town of Busia on the water at Lake Victoria . In 1999 the total population was of 3,358,776 inhabitants within an area of 8,361 km², increasing to 4.334 million for
360-405: The same community as those of Uganda Busia district. There has been an outcry from the Samia people on why the colonial government decided to cut and separate them placing them in different countries. Busia County borders Bungoma County to the north, Kakamega County to the east, Siaya County and Lake Victoria to the south east and south respectively. Busia with approximately 1700 square kilometers
380-833: The west of Kakamega. This factory produces the dominant sugar brand in Kenya and is an economic success story. Also in Western Kenya is the largest paper factory in Africa (Pan Paper Mills in Webuye ) and chemical processors. Despite this, living standards are generally low and social amenities like running water and electricity are not available to the majority of the province's residents. Several new districts were created in 2007 in Kenya, also in Western Province: Alupe University College Alupe University ( AU )
400-516: Was deputised by Kizito Osore Wangalwa in his first term and now he is deputised by Moses Okhoba Mulomi. Amos Wako Sitswila has been Busia senator since 2013 after being elected as the first senator. Florence Mwikali Mutua is the current women representative after taking office in 2013. The legislation in the county is done by the county assembly, it plays the oversight role of the executive, It comprises 53 members (35 elected representing 35 wards of Busia county and 18 nominated members mostly women). It
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