Siaya County

Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads, Airports, Climate & National Monuments in Siaya County

Geography of Siaya County

Siaya County has three major topographical zones: dissected uplands, moderate lowlands and Yala Swamp. All have different relief, soils and land use patterns. The altitude of Siaya County rises from 1140 ms on the shores of Lake Victoria to 1400 ms in the north. There are few hills found in the area: Mbaga, Odiado, Akala, Regea, Nyambare, Usenge, Ramogi Hills, Rambugu and Naya Hills. The expansive Yala Swamp around Ramogi Hill has potential for irrigation utilizing River Yala. Bondo has a few islands: Mageta, Sirigombe, Magarii, and Yalombo.

Land Use in Siaya County

Most of the land in Siaya County is privately owned. Almost 2059 km2 of land is arable and a major form of land use is subsistence agriculture. Only a small potion of Siaya Town has been set aside for industrial use. In Ugunja, Gem and Ugenya there is limited land for agriculture owing to a high population density. The main food crops include maize, sorghum, millet, beans, cowpeas, cassava, groundnuts and millet. The main cash crop include cotton, rice, and sugarcane.

Highlights in Siaya County

Siaya County has only one gazetted game reserve – the Lake Kanyaboli Game Reserve. There has been investment in hotels, cultural and heritage centres to help link it to the western circuit and with tours and travel investors. Some of these investments include Alego Nyang’oma Kogelo Village. Other cultural sites in Siaya County include Olua Sacred Trees, Holy Got Adodi, the Bullock of Got Podhe, Rambugu Hills, Got Ramogi, the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum, Achieng’ Oneko Mausoleum, Mageta Island, Odera Akang’o office and cells in Yala and several island lakes along River Yala (Sare & Namboyo). There are 33 beaches and five inhabited islands (Oyamo, Mageta, Ndeda, Magare, and Sihu).

Fishing cages in Lake Victoria. Photo Courtesy of The Star — Fishing cages in Lake Victoria. Image Courtesy of The Star

Population in Siaya County

The average population density in Siaya County as at 2012 was 350 people / km2. High potential areas include South Alego, Ukwala, North Ugenya, Central Ugenya, Yala, Wagai, Central Sakwa, Mageta Island and Asembo. Low potential areas include South West Alego, Usonga, West Sakwa, Usigu and East Uyoma. The total population of Siaya County in 2012 was estimated to be 885,762. The County had an annual population growth rate of 1.7% and was projected to rise to 964,390 persons by 2017. Siaya Town is the most populous, while Usenge Town is the least populous, with populations of 22,019 and 10,345 as at 2012.

Airports in Siaya County

Siaya County has three dormant air strips at Gombe, Dominion and Sega.

Roads in Siaya County

Siaya County has 283 kms of bitumen standard roads, 741 kms of gravel and 1161 kms of earth roads. The County has seen a big improvement in the road network with several roads being tarmacked including Rang’ala-Siaya-Bondo Road, Ndori-Luanda K’Otieno Road, Bondo to Mituri and Kisian-Bondo Roads.

Climate in Siaya County

Temperature in Siaya County varies with altitude rising from 21°C in the north east area to about 22°C along the shores of Lake Victoria. Humidity is relatively high around Siaya County – the relative humidity ranging between 73% in the morning and 53% in the afternoon. Siaya County experiences bi-modal rainfall.