Siaya County


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' and 34° 33' east. 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, town, although the largest town is Bondo.

Demographics

The population in the year 2019 was 993,183.

Religion

Religion in Siaya County
Religion Number
Catholicism226,455
Christians
450,510
African Diviners236,416
Orthodox7,426
Other Christians34,443
Islam4,994
Hindu25
Witchcraft2,526
Other16,993
No Religion8,614
Don't Know107
Not Stated233

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.

Elections

At the Kenyan [parliamentary election, 2007|2007 parliamentary elections] all five seats were won by Orange Democratic Movement.
Governors
ElectionsGovernorPartyNotes
2013Cornel Amoth RasangaODMHigh Court in Kisumu nullified the election on 23 August 2013.
—George Okode—County Assembly Speaker elevated to acting governor on 3 September 2013.

Villages and Settlements

  • , 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], a Christian philanthropist from Asembo Kanyikela Clan who after attending college at Siriba College, he served as a senior official in prisons during Kenya’s post-colonial period. 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. Mzee Oracha Rambo is the man who donated his land for the establishment of the now Lwak institutions.
  • 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

Majority of the population consist of members of the Luo people of [Kenya and Tanzania|Luo] tribe.
Notable People of Siaya County Include:
  1. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
  2. Achieng Oneko
  3. S.M Otieno
  4. Barack Obama Sr.
  5. Nicholas Gumbo
  6. William Odongo Omamo
  7. Bethwell Ogot
  8. Grace Ogot
  9. Raphael Tuju
  10. James Aggrey Orengo
  11. George Owino
  12. Raila Amollo Odinga
  13. Oburu Odinga
  14. Washington Jakoyo Midiwo
  15. Asenath Bole Odaga
  16. Eliud Owalo
  17. Cornel Rasanga Amoth
  18. David Wasawo
  19. PLO Lumumba
  20. Larry Madowo
  21. Opiyo Wandayi
  22. Prof Thomas Odhiambo

    Notable Secondary Schools