Siaya County

County in Kenya

Siaya County Siaya Kababa
County
Flag Coat of arms
Location in Kenya
Country	Kenya
Formed	4 March 2013
Capital	Siaya
Government
• Governor	James Orengo
Area
• Total	2,496.1 km² (963.7 sq mi)
Population (2019)
• Total	993,183^[1]
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)
Website	siaya.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

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

Division	Population*	Urban pop.*	Area	Sub-locations	Headquarters
Administrative divisions

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notable Secondary Schools

St. Mary's School, Yala, a boys boarding school in Gem Constituency.
Maranda High School, a boys National school in Bondo Constituency.
Chianda High School, a boys boarding school in Rarieda Constituency.
Ramba School, a boys boarding school in Rarieda Constituency.
St. Joseph's Nyalula Mixed secondary school, a day school in South Central Ward in Alego Usonga constituency
St. Paul Obambo Mixed Secondary School is one of the county's mixed public day school which has dominated boys' volleyball and girls' netball trophies for more than a decade. Obambo is a Catholic sponsored school known for its discipline, academic excellence and extra curriculum performance.
Ambira High School, a boys boarding school in Siaya County
Maliera Boys Secondary School, a boys boarding school located along Busia-Kisumu Road near Kodiaga Market.
Ng'iya Girls High School, a girls National school in Alego Constituency.
Barding Boys High School, Boys boarding school in Siaya county
Simero Secondary School, A mixed day secondary school located along Busia-Kisumu Road in Simero Village.
Sawagongo High School, near Nyangweso Market along the Kodiaga-Wagai Road.
Lwak Girls' High School, a girls boarding school in Rarieda Constituency
Kapiyo Secondary School, a mixed day secondary school located in West Sakwa, Bondo Constituency.
St Vincent Raliew Secondary School, a mixed day/boarding school in Rarieda Constituency.
Kitambo Mixed Secondary School, a mixed day school in Rarieda Constituency.
St.Christopher Palpal Secondary School mixed Alego Usonga Constituency.
St. Mary Ukwala Secondary School, a boys only boarding school in Ukwala Sub-County, Ugenya Constituency]
Rang'ala Boys Secondary School, boys secondary school in Ugunja Constituency, Ugunja Sub-county
Rang'ala Girls' Secondary School, girl's secondary school in Ugunja Constituency, Ugunja Sub-county
Ugenya High School, high school in Ligega, Ugenya Constituency, Ugunja Sub-County
Bar Olengo Secondary School, a mixed school in Alego Constituency.
Boro Secondary School, a mixed school in Alego Constituency.
Hawinga Girls Secondary School, located in Uranga town in Alego Constituency.

References

^ "Kenya Census 2009 - Kenya - Census" – via Scribd.
^ "SIAYA".
^ "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.
^ "3 Candidates each for Siaya and Kibwezi polls". Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. 20 September 2013. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013.
^ "Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga loses seat". Daily Nation. Kenya.
^ "Gazette Notice No. 12736". The Kenya Gazette. CXV (131). Republic of Kenya: 4432. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
^ Otieno, Ricky (5 September 2013). "Speaker to Act As Governor for Siaya". The Star (Kenya). Retrieved 14 September 2013.