The Green Gusii Gem
A Summa Digest of Nyamira County
The obscurity of Nyamira County, or lack of prominence in the popular touring circuits thereof, may arise from the fact that it is primary agrarian, far removed from the great offerings of beach and safari. And closer to home far from Lake Victoria. The dominance of farming, in a place with a year-round verdant outlook, means that life in Nyamira County is centered on food production, and tourism is set on the backburner. Still, Nyamira has great adventures – in abundance.
Nyamira County is small to boot. Bordering Kisii County to the south, Kericho County to the northeast, and Bomet County to the east, it is assimilated, in a lesser extent, to the mainstream breadbasket of Kenya. Collectively these four counties are known for their cultivation of crops such as tea, coffee, maize, and bananas. Small-scale dairy farming is also practiced. Likewise, the four are endowed with natural beauty of lush evergreen landscapes, rolling hills, and scenic views.
By day, with the African sun glowing high above, this region of Kenya looks like one happy village. The hillscapes are full with life and loud with a selection of music, machinery, and chatter of friendly folk. A riot of farms sprawl the country, packed to the hilltop where permitted, people farming, laughing, some carrying produce, and still others selling along the streets. Life begins to wind down in the early evening hours, and the countryside feels quiet and peaceful as the terraced surface of the hills disappear into the cold grey of the night. All for the process to begin new each day as it has for millennia. This is inherently the unsung beauty.
Most travellers arrive in Nyamira County by day, which is exactly when the place looks at its absolute best. There are two principal lines of communication from the capital city of Nairobi to Nyamira: A104 Nairobi-Malaba Road to Londiani onto B1 Mau Summit-Kisumu Road to Kericho then C21 Kericho-Ikonge Road to Nyamira – distance 305 km; or via the A104 to Mai Mai Mahiu onto B3 Mai Mahiu-Narok-Sotik Road to Sotik then C22 Sotik-Ikonge Road to Nyamira – distance 297 km. The latter, less congested and more scenic, is the best option for the motorist.
Beyond the turn at Mai Mahiu toward Narok it is a beautiful country, the fields and savanna. The long, straight road across megafields full of cereal crops gets you to Narok in under 90 km. Few, few trucks. It is peaceful and scenic, and there’s a flutter of life passing many small towns. Beyond Narok the roads starts to climb in altitude aiming for Bomet. The farms are stitched together tighter. And the crop gets greener. Presently, the hills begin their domination of the views, the flat plains vanishing fast. 80 km later at Bomet the countryside is full-on highland farmlands.
Beyond Sotik town you make the first turn at Kaplong and a few kilometres later at Chepilat. From Chepilat to Ikonge the C22 road has amazing scenery among tea plantations, with low traffic. This 30 km is unofficially the best tea-road. The views of the tea farms, rolling down to the shoulder of the road, are long and unbroken. This picturesque stretch with steep ascents, tight bends, tumbling turns, passing through the sleepy villages, separates Nyamira on the one side of the road with Bomet County to Sotik, and just off the border with Kericho County upto Sondu.
Beyond Chepilat the B3 Road continues westerly to Kisii town via Keroka and Keumbu, then rounds back to Sondu in the northeast corner of Nyamira County. From Chepilat the B3 roughly demarcates the southern and western border with Kisii County, and the northern boundary with Homa Bay County. In more ways than one the relatively small Nyamira County and next door Kisii County are almost identical – topographically and culturally – with both counties being exemplified by an elevated and hilly topography, much of which is under cultivation, supported by plenteous rains distributed throughout the year.
The Kisii community, sometimes referred to as the Abagusii or Gusii – a Bantu ethnic group – are the dominant ethnic group in Nyamira and Kisii counties. In relation, Nyamira was originally part of the old Kisii District before 1989. The Kisii community has rich cultural traditions and practices. Traditional ceremonies, dances, and rituals are an integral part of the community’s identity and heritage. These hold great potential to attract visitors interested in ecotourism and cultures. It is said that they took their name from their founder and patriarch Mogusii.
Similarly, one of the prominent features shared by these two counties is Gucha River, which rises in Kiabonyoru Hill in the northeastern area of Nyamira County near Nyamira town. River Gucha and its main tributary River Migori flows for 175 km before draining into Lake Victoria. River Gucha drains a catchment area of 2,196 km2 mainly in Nyamira and Kisii. Although the upper part of the Gucha River has been heavily harnessed for water supply and development around Kisii and Nyamira towns, and recently Keroka town, it remains one of its more striking features. Some highlights along the Gucha River include Keera and Gogo Falls.
Salient Features of Nyamira County
- County Number 46
- Area – 899 km2
- Altitude – 1250 to 2100 ms
- Major Towns – Nyamira, Keroka, Nyansiongo
- Borders – Bomet, Kisii, Homabay, Kericho
Touring Nyamira County offers a glimpse into the natural heritage of western Kenya, and cultural encounter with the charismatic Abagusii community. At Keroka, Otenyo Cultural Group Center offers insights into their traditions and customs. Generally speaking, Nyamira County is agrarian, typified by rolling hills.
You Are Here: Nyamira County
Where to Next?
Explore Destinations in Nyamira County
A Guide to Nyamira County
A Summa Digest of Nyamira
About Nyamira Way Back When
18 Destinations in Nyamira County, arranged as one would visit these - southeast, west then north - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Amanzi Resort, Kibugat Hill, Kipkebe Tea Estate, The Henri Boma, Eyaka Falls, Nyakwana [Keera] Falls, Kegogi Market, Nyamira Falls, Nkoora Hill, Bonyunyu Dam, Keroka, Otenyo Cultural Group Center, Manga Ridge, Otenyo Nyamaterere Shrine, Manga Hills, River Gucha, Kiabonyoru Hill, Chabera Coffee Factory, River Sondu Bridge
Know More About Nyamira County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
What’s The Lay Of The Land In C.46?
Nyamira is precipitous, from undulating to rolling, with flat-topped ridges alternating with bottomlands. Much of the land within Nyamira has been put under heavy cultivation.
What’s The Air Like In Nyamira?
The maximum day and minimum night temperatures are normally between 28o C and about 10oC respectively, translating to an average temperature of 19 Degrees C.
Abiri Kenya 