Bungoma County

The Bukusu people, who occupy much of the county, are resilient and flamboyant people who stood up against British rule in the late 19th century. In a war that erupted at Lumboka and eventually ended at Chetambe, near Webuye, the Bukusu bitterly resisted the British. They are farmers who practice both livestock and crop farming. An early British traveler described them as such when he visited in 1876 "on the East of the Mountain, there are the Bukusu who are greater bandu befwe navasima.

The Bukusu have produced many prominent people that have served in the Kenyan public life; among them are H.E. Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi (former Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD), the late Hon Masinde Muliro (founder member of the original KADU independence party, founder member of FORD party) late Hon Wamalwa Kijana (former vice president), the late Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga (head of the Catholic Church in Kenya), the late Elijah Masinde (founder of Dini ya Musambwa), Sudi Namachanja (chief during colonial times), Hon. Lawrence Sifuna (Second-Liberation hero in the struggle for multiparty democracy in Kenya), Luka Namulala (community fortune teller), Dr Eusebius Juma Mukhwana (agriculture/educationist), and Prof. Adrian Mukhebi (agriculture) among others. Among the women that have stood out include Dinah Khayota (former women's rights leader), Justice Ruth Nekoye, former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Barasa, Beatrice Kituyi (a prominent lawyer and former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour), among others.

In business, notable figures include Makhanu Munata, Maurice Butala, Vincent Naliakho, mama Dinah Kibunguchy, Henry Wakwabubi, Tom Katenya, Mama Lutia (Nalondo), Dimina Agencies, Mwalimu Kokonya, Moses Simiyu, Luketelo, Mbaya, and Didimo Satia, among others.

Bungoma County has had prominent innovators in the NGO world that helped champion the cause for the poor in society. One such person is Jim Nduruchi, the "jigger man" who started Rise Up Society, a community welfare organization that helped free thousands of people from the jigger scourge that afflicted mainly the poor from all walks of life. He is the winner of Google Awards (2016) in the sub Saharan Africa and his movement called "Love in action" had brought together people from everywhere on the planet to team up and drum up support for the suffering rural folk in Kenya. {{unbalanced opinion|date=March 2019}}

Politically, over the last 17 years or so, the community have been members of Ford-Kenya, the party formerly headed by Wamalwa Kijana. Through this party, the community has been able to express and participate in national politics. More recently, community members now have MPs drawn from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the Party of National Unity (Kenya) (PNU), Ford-Kenya, and New-Ford-Kenya. Currently, Kenneth Lusaka was the first Governor 2013 to 2017 followed by the county is headed by Dr Wycliffe Wafula Wangamati and deputised by Professor Charles Ngome.{{Cite web|title=Executive|url=https://bungoma.go.ke/executive/|last=Admin-BgCounty|website=The County Government of Bungoma. Our Heritage, Our Wealth|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-25}} They took office in 2017 after Kenneth Lusaka the first Governor lost reelection second term reelection in 2017. Moses Wetangula is the seating senator since 2013{{Cite web|title=Members of the Senate {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website|url=http://www.parliament.go.ke/the-senate/senators|website=www.parliament.go.ke|access-date=2020-05-25}} and the Catherine Nanjala Wambilianga is the women representative since 2017.{{Cite web|title=Women Representatives |url=http://www.kewopa.org/?page_id=965|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-25}}

Bungoma County has 9 constituencies and 45 County Assembly wards.{{Cite web |title=Bungoma County |url=https://knowledgehub.devolution.go.ke/kh/Category/counties/bungoma-county/ |access-date=28 September 2024 |website=Devolution Knowledge hub |language=en-US}}

1. Kabuchai
2. Kanduyi
3. Sirisia
4. Kimilili
5. Bumula
6. Tongaren
7. Webuye East
8. Webuye West
9. Mt. Elgon

Source{{Cite web|title=IEBC - resources|url=https://www.iebc.or.ke/resources/?Boundary_Delimitation|website=www.iebc.or.ke|access-date=2020-05-25}}

The county has a population of 1,670,570 persons as per 2019 census with a density of 552 persons per square kilometre and an average household 4.6 persons. Out of the total population 812,146 persons are male, 858,389 are female, and 35 are intersex.{{Cite book|last=Kenya National Bureau of Statistics|title=County Statistical Abstract Bungoma County 2015|publisher=Kenya National Bureau of Statistics|year=2015}}{{Cite book|last=Kenya National Bureau of Statistics|url=http://www.knbs.or.ke|title=2019 Kenya Population and House Census: Population by County and Sub-county Volume 1|publisher=Kenya National Bureau of Statistics|year=2019}}

{{Cite web|url=https://www.knbs.or.ke/?wpdmpro=2019-kenya-population-and-housing-census-volume-i-population-by-county-and-sub-county|title=2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume I: Population by County and Sub-County|website=Kenya National Bureau of Statistics|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-06}}{{Historical populations

| 1979 | 503,935

| 1989 | 679,146

| 1999 | 1,011,524

| 2009 | 1,375,063

| 2019 | 1,670,570

|align = none

| footnote = source:[http://www.citypopulation.de/php/kenya-admin.php Kenya: Administrative Division population statistics]

}}

Religion in Bungoma County

{{cite web |url=https://housingfinanceafrica.org/app/uploads/VOLUME-IV-KPHC-2019.pdf |title=2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics |access-date=2 May 2021 |website=Kenya National Bureau of Statistics| df=dmy }}

The main economic activities include agriculture, manufacturing, services, and general retail. Bungoma county had a Gross County Product of Ksh 174,240 in 2022.{{Cite web |title=Gross County Product - 2023 - Kenya National Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.knbs.or.ke/reports/gross-county-product-2023/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |language=en-US}}

Agriculture is the backbone of Bungoma County and most families rely on crop production and animal rearing. The main crops include maize, beans, finger millet, sweet potatoes, bananas, Irish potatoes, and assorted vegetables. These are grown primary for subsistence, with the excess sold to meet other family needs. On the other hand, the main cash crops include sugar cane, cotton, palm oil, coffee, sunflower, and tobacco. Most families integrate livestock production with farming. The main livestock kept include cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, pigs, poultry, and bees. Most of this is on a small scale but some farmers also produce milk and poultry products for commercial use. Milk farmers sell their milk though cooperative societies, including Sang'alo, Kikai, and Naitiri.{{cite web |last=admin |date=18 February 2015 |title=Bungoma Dairy Farmers Wrecking Millions From Sell of Milk |url=http://www.countyguardian.com/bungoma-dairy-farmers-wrecking-millions-from-sell-of-milk/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117193354/http://www.countyguardian.com/bungoma-dairy-farmers-wrecking-millions-from-sell-of-milk/ |archive-date=17 November 2018 |access-date=17 November 2018 |website=Countyguardian.com}}

Rai Paper, formerly Pan-African Paper Mills (East Africa) Limited, is one of the largest manufacturing companies in the county. The company, which was incorporated in 1969, is based in Webuye Town and manufactures paper products.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=11212089|website=Bloomberg.com|access-date=17 November 2018|title=Stocks }} Pan Paper, as it was commonly known, struggled and eventually collapsed in 2009 due to a myriad of factors, including mismanagement. In its heyday, Pan Paper was the largest company in Bungoma and employed 5,000 people directly and another 30,000 indirectly.{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201409020623.html|title=Kenya: State Urged to Revive Webuye Pan Paper Mill|website=Allafrica.com|access-date=16 February 2019}}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Due to its importance to the economy of Webuye Town, the collapse brought the town to its knees, with most businesses shutting down.{{cite web|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000183916/when-pan-paper-collapsed-hopes-of-webuye-town-died-with-it|title=When Pan Paper collapsed, hopes of Webuye town died with it|first=Jackline|last=Inyanji|website=Standardmedia.co.ke|access-date=17 November 2018}} In an effort to revive the company, the government of Kenya privatized it in 2016 and it was bought by Tarlochan Ltd, a subsidiary of Rai Group of Companies, for Ksh 900 million (US$9 million). Due to long neglect, the company needed a major overhaul of machinery, with the new owner saying it would cost about Ksh 6 billion (US$60 million) to fully rehabilitate.{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201605100986.html|title=Kenya: New Bosses Begin Work to Revive Pan Paper|website=Allafrica.com|access-date=16 February 2019}} Today, the company is operating on a lower scale and employs about 500 people.{{cite news|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/counties/Bungoma/Uhuru-to-commission-reopening-of--Pan-Paper-Mills-in-Webuye/1183258-3486852-f2adt6z/index.html|title=Uhuru to reopen Wbuye's Pan Paper|newspaper=Nation|access-date=17 November 2018}}

Nzoia Sugar Company Ltd is the other major manufacturing company in the county. Established in 1975, the company serves over 67,000 farmers within and outside of Bungoma County. The company's nucleus cane estate covers 3,600 hectares, while the out-grower zone spans over 23,500 hectares.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzoiasugar.co.ke/|title=Nzoia Sugar Company|website=Nzoia Sugar Company|access-date=16 February 2019}} Nzoia Sugar has however not provided farmers with a stable source of income. Frequent closures, occasioned by mismanagement, huge debts, and failure to pay farmers, who in turn refuse to supply cane, have continued to hinder its operations.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2017/07/06/nzoia-sugar-closes-over-huge-debt-shortage-of-cane_c1591399|title=Nzoia Sugar closes over huge debt, shortage of cane|website=The-star.co.ke|access-date=17 November 2018}}

The other factories and industries in the county include Malakisi Tobacco Leaf Centre, Webuye Heavy Chemicals Industry, and small coffee factories. Milk plants and large bread bakeries are also present in the county.

Bungoma is served by several financial institutions, including major banks such as Barclays, KCB, Equity, Cooperative, National, Family, Diamond Trust, and Bank of Africa. The county also has several micro-finance institutions, including K-Rep and Kenya Women Finance Trust. Insurance companies with a presence in the county include British American, Geminia, Pan African, Blue Shield, and Amaco, among others. The county is served by several post offices, and major mobile telephone operators in Kenya including Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom. Courier operators in the county include G4S Security and Wells Fargo. Some of these service providers, such as Safaricom, employ hundreds through their services such as Mpesa.{{cite web|url=https://www.safaricom.co.ke/images/Downloads/Personal/M-PESA/Agent-Locations/western.pdf|title=M-PESA Authorised Agents|website=Safaricom.co.ke|access-date=16 February 2019}}

Despite having some potential for tourism, including the Mt. Elgon National Park{{cite web|url=http://www.kws.go.ke/content/mount-elgon-national-park|title=Mount Elgon National Park - Kenya Wildlife Service|website=Kws.go.ke|access-date=16 February 2019}} and cultural events such as traditional circumcision, Bungoma's tourism sector is under-developed. It is only recently that an upsurge of the hotel industry has been experienced, mainly driven by business travelers.

File:Bungoma tourist hotel.jpg

Bungoma County has had a vibrant retail sector which has been growing. The major supermarkets operating in the county include Nakumatt, Naivas, Khetias, and Shariffs.{{cite web|url=https://www.khetia.com/milestone.html|title=Khetia Drapers Ltd > Milestone|website=Khetia.com|access-date=17 November 2018|archive-date=9 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009220535/http://www.khetia.com/milestone.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/Naivas-in-a-head-to-head-race-with-Nakumatt-for-Bungoma/539550-2919726-t9obhq/index.html|title=Naivas in a head-to-head race with Nakumatt for Bungoma|newspaper=Business Daily|access-date=16 February 2019}} Chepkube and Kimilili Market are the county's leading secondhand clothes market, which provides entrepreneurship opportunities to many residents.

There are a total of 1292 ECD centres, 961 primary schools and 306 secondary schools.{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.education.go.ke/|website=www.education.go.ke|access-date=2020-05-25}}

The main university in the area is Kibabii University, which was chartered in 2015, and is a public university located about 10 km from Bungoma Town, along the Chwele-Kimilili Road. The vice chancellor is Professor Isaac Odeo Ipara. Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) has campuses at Bungoma and Webuye. Other major educational institutions of higher learning include SACRED Training Institute (STI), Sang'alo Institute of Science and Technology, Matili Polytechnic, Kisiwa Polytechnic, Bungoma North Technical Vocational College [https://www.bungomanorthtvc.ac.ke] Kibabii Diploma Teacher's College.

The county also has major national and county schools, such as Vunjosi FYM Sec School, Friends School Kamusinga, Lugulu Girls, Kibabii High School, Chwele Girls, Misikhu Girls, Naitiri boys, St. Luke's Boys' High School, Magemo friends, Ndivisi Secondary and Bungoma High School. The residents of the county highly value education and invest a great deal in it.

Major professionals that have been through the higher education sector in Kenya include Prof. Kassily (medic), Prof. Simiyu Wandibba (archaeology), Prof. Vincent Simiyu (history), Prof. Henry Kerre (education), Prof. Monica Mwiseli (maths), Prof. Barasa Wangila (aquaculture), Eng. Prof. Sibilike K. Makhanu (Professor of Civil Engineering), Prof. Eusebius Mukhwana (agriculture/educationist), Prof Adrian Mukhebi (agriculture), and Prof. Ngome Kibanani.

Bungoma county has 11 hospitals, 19 health centres, 96 dispensaries and 178 clinics.

There is a total of 915 bed capacity in the county with distribution as follows; level five has 216 beds, level four 462 beds, level three 176 and level 2 61 beds.{{Cite web|title=MINISTRY OF HEALTH – REPUBLIC OF KENYA|url=https://www.health.go.ke/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-25}}

There are a number of non-governmental organizations currently working in Bungoma. One Acre Fund in an effort to improve farming incomes, is introducing more profitable crops and farming techniques to farmers and providing farming inputs in exchange for a share of future revenues. For over 15 years, SACRED Africa has been working with farmers to improve farm productivity, soil health, Technology transfer and marketing of agricultural produce. The organization pioneered the concept of cereal banking in western Kenya which won a UN award for innovative resolution of challenges facing smallholder marketing.

Sun24 has trained over 60,000 women in Bungoma to cook with rock beds in their traditional wood cookstoves. Rock beds are free and cut firewood usage by a third and cut smoke by much more.

Village Enterprise has trained more than 600,000 women in Bungoma on how to start, develop and sustain businesses in the county. They have also encouraged the registration of women groups in order to facilitate them to a bigger pool of resources from the government in order to improve livelihoods.

{{Bar chart

| float = center

| title = Stats for Bungoma County

| table_width = 37

| bar_width = 50

| data_max = 100

| label_type = County

| data_type = {{center|Stats for the County (Per cent)}}

| label1 = Urbanisation | data1 = 21.7

| label2 = Literacy | data2 = 60.5

| label3 = Attending School (15-18 Yrs) | data3 =87.6

| label4 = Paved Roads | data4 = 6

| label5 = Good Roads | data5 = 46.7

| label6 = Electricity Access | data6 = 4.5

| label7 = Poverty Rate | data7 = 52.9

| caption = {{resize|88%|Stats for the County}}

}} Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20130223182429/http://kenya.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/profiles/Bungoma_Dec2011%2019.pdf USAid Kenya]

The county has nine constituencies:

• Bumula Constituency
• Kabuchai Constituency
• Kanduyi Constituency
• Kimilili Constituency
• Mt. Elgon Constituency
• Sirisia Constituency
• Tongaren Constituency
• Webuye West Constituency
• Webuye East Constituency

• Chelebei
• Chesikaki
• Kamukuywa
• Kapsokwany
• Kamusinga
• Laboot
• Mbakalo
• Kibisi
• Lunyu
• karima

• Trans Nzoia County
• Uasin Gishu County
• Nandi County
• Kakamega County
• Busia County
• Kisumu County

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/36672705/Kenya-Census-2009|title=Kenya Census 2009 - Census - Kenya|via=Scribd|access-date=17 November 2018}}

First Bungoma County Integrated Development Plan 2013- 2017

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{{First and second-level administrative divisions of Kenya}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|0|35|N|34|35|E|region:KE_type:adm2nd_source:kolossus-frwiki|display=title}}

Category:Counties of Kenya

Category:People from Bungoma County

Category:Bungoma County

Category:Western Province (Kenya)