Nyanza Province

Nyanza
Mkoa wa Nyanza
Former Province

Location in Kenya.
Coordinates: 0°30′S 34°40′E / 0.500°S 34.667°E / -0.500; 34.667Coordinates: 0°30′S 34°40′E / 0.500°S 34.667°E / -0.500; 34.667
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 EAT (UTC+3)
The capital of Kenya's Nyanza Province, on Lake Victoria, is Kisumu (click to enlarge map)

Nyanza Province (Kenyan English pronunciation: [ˈɲaːnzə]; Swahili: Mkoa wa Nyanza), was one of Kenya's eight administrative provinces before the formation of the 47 counties under the 2010 constitution. 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. There are also Bantu-speaking tribes such as the Gusii, the Kuria and a few traces of the 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

Code County Former Province Area (km2) Population
Census 2009 		Capital
41 Siaya Nyanza 2,496.1842,304 Siaya
42 Kisumu Nyanza 2,009.5968,909 Kisumu
43 Homa Bay Nyanza 3,154.7963,794 Homa Bay
44 Migori Nyanza 2,586.4917,170 Migori
45 Kisii Nyanza 1,317.91,152,282 Kisii
46 Nyamira Nyanza 912.5598,252 Nyamira
Totals 12,477.15,442,711

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, spoken by the Luo.

Other languages include Gusii, Luhya, Kuria, Suba and the national languages English and Swahili. Other languages from the many Kenyan communities are also spoken in small pockets by migrants from these communities.

Notable residents

Barack Obama Sr., was born in the Nyanza Province. He was the father of the President of the United States Barack Obama. Others include the independence fighters and socialist politicians Achieng Oneko and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, the latter's son Prime Minister Raila Odinga, former ministers Robert Ouko and Tom Mboya, and the historian Bethwell Allan Ogot.and Chrispine Otwal the current chief Civil engineer of Warren Enterprises limited

References

  1. ↑ Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and National Security
Languages
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