Busia is a

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

in the former

Western Province Western Province or West Province may refer to: * Western Province, Cameroon *Western Province, Rwanda *Western Province (Kenya) *Western Province (Papua New Guinea) *Western Province (Solomon Islands) *Western Province, Sri Lanka *Western Provin ...

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi ...

. It borders Kakamega County to the east, Bungoma County to the north, Lake Victoria and

Siaya County Siaya County is one of the Counties of Kenya, counties in the former Nyanza Province in the Western part of Kenya. It is bordered by Busia County to the north, Kakamega County and Vihiga County's to the northeast and Kisumu County to the southe ...

to the south and Busia District, Uganda to the west. The county has about 893,000 people and spans about 1,700 square kilometers making it one of the smallest counties in Kenya. Busia is inhabited by the Luhya tribe of Kenya and the Teso of Kenya, and small groups of the

Luo Luo may refer to: Luo peoples and languages *Luo peoples, an ethno-linguistic group of eastern and central Africa **Luo people of Kenya and Tanzania or Joluo, an ethnic group in western Kenya, eastern Uganda, and northern Tanzania. *** Luoland, th ...

. The Luhya communities include the Abakhayo, Marachi, Samia and Abanyala communities.

Etymology

Busia county is part of the western province of Kenya. It has been commonly inhabited by the Luhya tribe of Kenya the minority tribe of Iteso. Prior to being a county, it was known as Busia district before more districts were created by president Mwai Kibaki. Busia county borders Uganda to the west. The Samia people of Busia are the same community as those of

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The sou ...

Busia district. There has been an outcry for Samia people on why the colonial government decided to cut and separate them placing them in different countries.

Geography

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 approximate of 1700 square kilometers 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 the county.

Climate

The county 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 hot and wet climate.

Lakes and rivers

*Lake Victoria *River Sio *River Malaba *River Nzoia

Religion

Most residents are Christian with few Muslims and African believers.

Language

The Kenya national languages are English and Swahili, in Busia county Swahili is commonly used but most residents speak their native mother tongue that is either Luhya or Iteso languages.

Economy

The main economic activities include farming and tourism.

Tourism

* Lake Victoria * Kakapel Monument * Samia Hills * Kavirondo Rocks * Yala Swamp * Malaba Sanctuary * River Nzoia * Sio Siteki Swamp

Demographics

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 Intersex people are individuals born with any of several sex characteristics including chromosome patterns, gonads, or genitals that, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, "do not fit typical bin ...

. 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 is also a substantial population of

and Iteso residents.

Law and government

Administrative units

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 * Nambale Constituency *

Butula Constituency Butula Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of seven constituencies in Busia County Busia is a county in the former Western Province of Kenya. It borders Kakamega County to the east, Bungoma County to the north, Lake V ...

Funyula Constituency Funyula Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of seven constituencies in Busia County Busia is a county in the former Western Province of Kenya. It borders Kakamega County to the east, Bungoma County to the north, Lake ...

Budalangi Constituency Budalangi Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of seven constituencies in Busia County Busia is a county in the former Western Province of Kenya. It borders Kakamega County to the east, Bungoma County to the north, La ...

* Matayos Constituency * Teso North Constituency * Teso South Constituency

County government

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 was deputised by Kizito Osore Wangalwa in his first term and now he is deputised by Moses Okhoba Mulomi.

Amos Wako Amos Wako (born 31 July 1945) is a former Attorney General of Kenya and the first senator for Busia County from 2013 to 2017. Wako won the senatorial seat after defeating former minister of finance Chris Okemo. He won the senator seat on an Or ...

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 is chaired by the speaker who is elected by the assembly currently Bernard Wamalwa.

Executive

County governor, deputy county governor and Busia county departments headed by county executive committee members and chief officers.

Legislature

Busia county assembly comprises 35 elected MCA and nominated MCA the assembly is chaired by county assembly speaker, currently Bernard Wamalwa.

Judiciary

The judiciary of Busia is exercised by Kenyan judiciary. There is Busia law court located in the town of Busia.

Health

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.

Education

Busia county has a total of 735 pre-primary schools, 551 primary schools, 152 secondary schools. As at 2014 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 A public university or public college is a university or college that is in state ownership, owned by the state or receives significant government spending, public funds through a national or subnational government, as opposed to a private unive ...

in Busia County.

Transport and infrastructure

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.