Nyanza Province (; sw, Mkoa wa Nyanza) was one of

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

's eight administrative provinces before the formation of the 47 counties under the

2010 constitution The Constitution of Kenya is the supreme lawof the Republic of Kenya. There have been three significant versions of the constitution, with the most recent redraft being enabled in 2010. The 2010 edition replaced the 1963 independence constitut ...

. Six counties were organised in the area of the former province. The region is located in the southwest part of Kenya around

Lake Victoria Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. With a surface area of approximately , Lake Victoria is Africa's largest lake by area, the world's largest tropical lake, and the world's second-largest fresh water lake by surface area after ...

, includes part of the eastern edge of Lake Victoria, and is inhabited predominantly by the Luo people and Kisii people. There are also Bantu-speaking tribes, such as the Kuria, and some

Luhya Luhya or Abaluyia may refer to: * Luhya people * Luhya language Luhya (; also Luyia, Luhia or Luhiya) is a Bantu language of western Kenya. Dialects The various Luhya tribes speak several related languages and dialects, though some of them ar ...

, 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 Kisumu ( ) is the third-largest city in Kenya after the capital, Nairobi, and the coastal city of Mombasa (census 2019). It is the third-largest city after Kampala and Mwanza in the Lake Victoria Basin. Apart from being an important p ...

, 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 Humidity is the concentration of water vapor present in the air. Water vapor, the gaseous state of water, is generally invisible to the human eye. Humidity indicates the likelihood for precipitation, dew, or fog to be present. Humidity depe ...

Counties

The following counties make up the area of the former Nyanza province:

Districts after 2007

Several new districts were created in 2007 in Kenya, also in Nyanza Province:Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and National Security

Languages

The predominant language in Nyanza is Dholuo, a Nilotic language and Ekegusii (Bantu Languages) whose origins are from

South Sudan South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of th ...

. It is spoken by the ethnic Luo. Other languages include

, Kuria, Suba and the national languages of

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

and Swahili. Other languages from the many Kenyan communities are also spoken in small pockets by migrants from these communities.

Notable residents

Tom Mboya Thomas Joseph Odhiambo Mboya (15August 19305July 1969) was a Kenyan trade unionist, educator, Pan-Africanist, author, independence activist, and statesman. He was one of the founding fathers of the Republic of Kenya.Kenya Human Rights Commissio ...

, politician and former minister *

Simeon Nyachae Simeon Nyachae (6 February 1932 – 1 February 2021) was a Kenyan politician, government minister, and businessman from Kisii County. Early life and education Nyachae was born into a large polygamous family in Nyaribari, Kisii County, on 6 Feb ...

was a Kenyan politician and businessman from

Kisii County Kisii County is a county in the former Nyanza Province in southwestern Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Kisii. The county has a population of 1,266,860 people. It borders Nyamira County to the North East, Narok County to the South, and ...

. * Barack Obama Sr. was born in Nyanza Province. Economist with the government, he was educated in the United States, in Hawaii and Massachusetts. He was the father of the

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, Obama was the first Af ...

(2009-2017) of the United States, who was born in Hawaii. * Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, independence fighter and socialist politician * Raila Odinga, son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, is a politician and the leader of Opposition in Kenya. *

Bethwell Allan Ogot Bethwell Allan Ogot (born 1929) is a historian from Kenya. He specialises in African history, research methods and theory. One of his works starts by saying that "to tell the story of a past so as to portray an inevitable destiny is, for human ...

is a renowned historian and academician. * Achieng Oneko, independence fighter and socialist politician * Robert Ouko, politician and former minister * James Orengo is a Kenyan lawyer, a well known human rights activist and a prominent politician who is the current senator for Siaya County. *Prof. Sammy Ongeri, second kisii County senator and former MP Nyaribari Madaba *Elijah Marube, Environmental consultant and an industrialist *Andrew John Omanga, former minister and Ambassador, Second MP Nyaribari Chache * James Nyamweya, MP Nyaribari Chache and one of the first Ministers in first Government. *

Samson Mwita Marwa Samson Mwita Marwa (1932–2022), also known as Mwita Nyagakende, was a Kenyan teacher and politician who served in the National Assembly of Kenya from 1969 until 1974 as a member of the Kenya African National Union. Biography Samson Mwita ...

, MP

Villages and settlements

* Amimos * Bar Olengo * Baragulu * Baroseno * Bonyunyu * Boguche * Bonyakoni * Buholo * Bukangasi * Bulungo * Bulwani * Bumburia * Busonga * Bumudondo * Homa Lime Kowuor * Jaleny * Kabola *

Kadenge Kadenge is a settlement in Kenya's Kisumu county. References

Populated places in Nyanza Province {{NyanzaKE-geo-stub ...

* Karadolo *

Kobodo Kobodo is a settlement in Kenya's Nyanza Province Nyanza Province (; sw, Mkoa wa Nyanza) was one of Kenya's eight administrative provinces before the formation of the 47 counties under the 2010 constitution. Six counties were organised i ...

* Kodiaga * Kogoe *

Lwala Lwala is a settlement in Kenya's Nyanza Province Nyanza Province (; sw, Mkoa wa Nyanza) was one of Kenya's eight administrative provinces before the formation of the 47 counties under the 2010 constitution. Six counties were organised in ...

* Lady Whitehouse *

Magunga Magunga is a settlement in Kenya's Nyanza Province. References Populated places in Nyanza Province {{NyanzaKE-geo-stub ...

* Marinde * Marucha * Mehuru * Migoko *

Mirieri Mirieri is a settlement in Kenya's Nyanza Province. References Populated places in Nyanza Province {{NyanzaKE-geo-stub ...

* Mirogi * Mohanda Arunde * Musa Nyandisi * Mutet * Muweri * Mw'aboto * Ngia * Ngiri, Kenya * Nyabera * Nyadorera * Nyamuga *

Nyamware Nyamware is a settlement in Kenya's Nyanza Province. It is located in Kadibo division, Nyando constituency, Kisumu county. Settlement in this place dates back to 1867. It serves as a beach along one of the tributaries of river Nyando. Fishing ...

* Nyangweso * Nyowita * Uranga

References

External links

; Languages * https://web.archive.org/web/20060820152345/http://www.yale.edu/swahili/ Swahili- English translation
Kisii Language - ''Kisii''
English- Ekegusii translation {{Authority control Provinces of Kenya Former provinces 2013 disestablishments in Kenya