Nyanza
—  Province  —
Location in Kenya.
Coordinates: 0°30′S 34°40′E / 0.5°S 34.667°E / -0.5; 34.667Coordinates: 0°30′S 34°40′E / 0.5°S 34.667°E / -0.5; 34.667
Country	Kenya
No. of districts:	19
Capital	Kisumu
Area
• Total	16,162 km2 (6,240 sq mi)
Population (1999)
• Total	4,392,196
• Density	270/km2 (700/sq mi)
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)

The capital of Kenya's Nyanza Province, on Lake Victoria, is Kisumu (click to enlarge map)

Nyanza Province of Kenya, is one of Kenya's eight administrative provinces. It is located in the southwest part of Kenya around Lake Victoria. Nyanza includes part of the eastern edge of Lake Victoria and is inhabited predominantly by the Luo. There are also Bantu-speaking tribes such as the Gusii, the Kuria and a few traces of the Luhya living in the province. The province derives its name from Nyanza, a Bantu word which means a large mass of water.

The provincial capital is Kisumu, the third largest city in Kenya. The province has a population of 4,392,196 (as of 1999) within an area of 16,162 km².^[1]

The climate is tropical humid.

Districts[link]

Initially, Nyanza had four administrative districts. Since the 1990s, the province has been further divided into the following districts:

District (capital):
Bondo (Bondo) · Gucha (Ogembo ^a) · Homa Bay (Homa Bay) · Kisii (Kisii) ^b · Kisumu (Kisumu) · Kuria (Kehancha) · Migori (Migori) · Nyamira (Nyamira) ^c · Nyando (Awasi) · Rachuonyo (Oyugis) · Siaya (Siaya) · Suba (Mbita)

^a Also known as South Kisii District and Ogembo District.
^b Also known as Kisii Central District.
^c Also known as North Kisii District.

Districts after 2007[link]

Several new districts were created in 2007 in Kenya, also in Nyanza Province^[2]:

Languages[link]

The predominant language in Nyanza is Dholuo, a Nilotic language whose origins are from Southern Sudan, spoken by the Luo.

Other languages include Gusii, Luhya, Kuria, Suba and the national languages English and Swahili. Other languages from the many Kenyan communities are also spoken in small pockets by migrants from these communities.

Notable residents[link]

Barack Obama, Sr., was born in the Nyanza Province. He is the father of the President of the United States Barack Obama, Jr. Others include the independence fighters and socialist politicians Achieng Oneko and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, the latter's son Prime Minister Raila Odinga, former ministers Robert Ouko and Tom Mboya, and the historian Bethwell Allan Ogot.

References[link]

External links[link]

Languages

• http://www.yale.edu/swahili Swahili- English translation
• Kisii Language - Kisii English- Ekegusii translation

v t e First- and second-level administrative divisions of Kenya Provinces Central Coast Eastern Nairobi North Eastern Nyanza Rift Valley Western Principal cities and towns Baragoi Bungoma Busia Eldoret Embu Garissa Hola Homa Bay Isiolo Kajiado Kakamega Kapenguria Kericho Kiambu Kilifi Kisii Kisumu Kitale Kitui Limuru Lodwar Lokichokio Loiyangalani Lamu Machakos Malindi Mandera Maralal Marsabit Meru Mombasa Moyale Mumias Murang'a Nairobi Naivasha Nakuru Namanga Nanyuki Narok Nyahururu Nyeri Ruiru Thika Voi Wajir Webuye Wundanyi Districts Baringo Bomet Bondo Bungoma Buret Busia Butere/Mumias Embu Garissa Gucha Homa Bay Ijara Isiolo Kajiado Kakamega Keiyo Kericho Kiambu Kilifi Kirinyaga Kisii Kisumu Kitui Koibatek Kuria Kwale Laikipia Lamu Lugari Machakos Makueni Malindi Mandera Maragua Marakwet Marsabit Mbeere Meru Central Meru North Meru South Migori Mombasa Mount Elgon Moyale Muranga Mwingi Nairobi Nakuru Nandi Narok Nyamira Nyandarua Nyando Nyeri Rachuonyo Samburu Siaya Suba Taita-Taveta Tana River Teso Tharaka Thika Trans Mara Trans-Nzoia Turkana Uasin Gishu Vihiga Wajir West Pokot