Matayos

Matayos (also Matayo's) is a settlement in the Busia County of Kenya's former Western Province. Matayos is a small township of about two thousand inhabitants along the B1 road (Kisumu-Busia Highway), sixteen kilometres from the Busia border point, and about two kilometres east of the Sio River bridge. Matayos Division, whose seat is at Matayos centre is a very small borough covering the stretch of about twenty-two kilometres from Korinda junction near Busia town at its extreme west-point to the Rakite stream depression near Bumala junction to the east. The division is home to about eighty-thousand people.

Location

Matayos is a cross-roads trading centre, formed from the confluence of dirt-roads that serve the hinter-regions of Funyula, Mulwanda, Namboboto to the south, and eLugulu, Nasewa sugar-belt and Nambale district headquarters to the North. Matayos township at Lwanya area, is the administrative seat of Matayos Division in Busia County which have three location namely Nasewa, lwanya and Nangoma, and has been administered by a divisional officer continuously since the year 1990, when it was carved by presidential decree out of the larger Nambale Division of the former Busia District. Matayos is well served by streams and bisected by the River Sio as it flows form Mount Elgon toward Lake Victoria. Matayos is hilly to the south-east, with the land generally slanting to its lowest points in the Sio swamp, and rising again as it sprawls towards the international border with Uganda.

Name

The name Matayos is an offshoot of colonial Christian influences. Elderly residents recount that the man whose land was transformed into the public forum ( baraza) seat of the colonial Chief's, was named Matayo, baptized as such by Italian missionaries of the early 20th century.

Religion

A contested base for both the Church Missionary Society and the Roman Catholic Church, Matayos area retains schools and other symbols of the two Christian sects. The Catholics run their affairs from the eastern end at Lwanya, while the Anglicans have made Busende to the west their local fiefdom. The township is therefore known by its English rendition, as Matayo's market, later turned into Matayos, much in the same sense as Mumias town was derived from Nabongo Mumia's base at Elureko.

Matayos Sub-County

Matayos Sub-County is located in Busia County, Kenya. As a study area, it offers a diverse range of characteristics that can be valuable for various fields of research. Below are some key aspects of Matayos Sub-County that make it a significant study area:

Geographic and Demographic Characteristics
Location and Size: Matayos Sub-County is situated in the western part of Kenya, near the border with Uganda. It covers a relatively small area within Busia County, making it accessible for field studies.
Population: The sub-county has a mixed population comprising various ethnic groups, with the Luhya community being predominant. The population density and demographic trends can be valuable for sociological and anthropological studies.
Socio-Economic Activities
Agriculture: The primary economic activity in Matayos is agriculture, with a focus on subsistence farming. Common crops include maize, beans, and cassava. Livestock farming is also practiced. This makes it an ideal location for agricultural and economic research.
Trade and Commerce: Due to its proximity to the border, Matayos has a vibrant trade sector. The sub-county benefits from cross-border trade with Uganda, which impacts local economies and livelihoods.
Education and Health
Educational Institutions: Matayos hosts several primary and secondary schools. Education-related studies can explore issues like access to education, quality of education, and educational outcomes.
Healthcare Facilities: The sub-county has various health centers and clinics. Research can focus on healthcare access, common health issues, and the effectiveness of local healthcare services.
Environmental and Climatic Conditions
Climate: Matayos experiences a tropical climate with two rainy seasons. The climatic conditions influence agricultural practices and local livelihoods. Environmental studies can examine the impact of climate change, water resources, and soil quality.
Natural Resources: The sub-county's natural resources, including its fertile soil and water bodies, provide opportunities for environmental and geographical studies.
Cultural and Social Dynamics
Cultural Practices: The region is rich in cultural traditions and practices, including traditional ceremonies, festivals, and community events. Anthropologists and sociologists can explore cultural continuity and change.
Social Structure: The social organization of Matayos, including family structures, community leadership, and social networks, offers a rich field for social science research.
Challenges and Development Issues
Infrastructure: Like many rural areas in Kenya, Matayos faces challenges with infrastructure, including roads, electricity, and water supply. Studies can focus on the impact of infrastructure development on local communities.
Economic Development: The sub-county grapples with issues related to poverty, unemployment, and economic development. Research can address strategies for sustainable development and poverty alleviation.
Policy and Governance
Local Governance: The administrative structure and local governance in Matayos provide insights into the implementation of devolution policies in Kenya. Policy studies can analyze the effectiveness of local governance and community participation.
Matayos Sub-County offers a rich tapestry of study opportunities across various disciplines, from social sciences and economics to environmental studies and public health.

Economy

With the establishment of farmers co-operatives in the 1950s and sixties, Matayos was one of the early townships to host a cotton seed distribution store and a milk-collection centre.

The inhabitants of Matayos are subsistence farmers who mainly grow cassava, white and yellow (Nyayo) maize, sweet potatoes,,sorghum, finger millet, yams and beans on small pieces of land, usually an acre or less. They raise livestock on a similarly small scale, mainly cattle which acts as draught animals for ploughing purposes, some goats,sheep and usually some free-range chickens the area also grow cash crop such as sugarcane farming in Busibwabo and Nasewa area . Matayos area has been rapidly influenced by national economic and development policy, with efforts aimed at literacy, basic healthcare and water provision. There has been sustained effort by the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) of the national government to develop and equip schools, provide piped water and supply drugs at country referral hospital and local health centre i.e. Matayos health centre and Nasewa health centre and five working dispensaries, matayos health centre one of the oldest in the country.

Located some sixteen kilometers away from the international border, blessed with an abundance of construction materials (sand from the Sio and stones from the Nangoma, Ganjala, Odiado hills) and served by one of Kenya's main highways, Matayos was viewed as a favorite place to become the headquarter of Busia, away from the insecurity and hustle-and-bustle of the Busia border town.

Education

The area has 13 public secondary schools and more than thirty primary schools three village polytechnics, all run by the government.

Notable residents

In national affairs, Matayos has produced several public figures, including the longest-serving former Attorney-General of Kenya, Amos Wako.

References

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Populated places in Western Province (Kenya)
Busia County