Migori

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Migori county 044, also known as Suna-Migori, is a multi-ethnic municipal town which acts as the capital of Migori County, Kenya. The town is located 63 kilometers south of Kisii town and 22 km north of the Tanzanian border. The Migori Metropolitan area consists of Migori municipality and the adjacent smaller towns. The area has eight constituencies, namely Rongo, Awendo, Suna East, Suna West, Uriri, Nyatike, Kuria East and Kuria West with a total population of 393,012 according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics-sponsored national census of 2019.^[1] The neighboring town/constituency of Awendo had 96,872 and Kuria East (Sirare) had 117, 290. In 2010, The Star newspaper reported that the town had a population of approximately 100,000 people.^[2]

Migori is the second most viable urban center in Luo Nyanza after Kisumu city. However, it is the third largest town in former Nyanza province after Kisumu and Kisii. As compared to most Nyanza towns, Migori is unique because of its multi-ethnic makeup consisting of Dholuo-speaking people, Abasuba community, Abagusii, Abaluhya, Kuria, Indians, Arabs, and Somali people. Increasingly, there are also westerners living in the town engaged in mission activities as well as gold mining at Macalder Mines. Migori holds a special place geographically because of its close proximity to Uganda via Lake Victoria, through Migingo Island and its land and lake border with Tanzania at Isebania, Kehancha, Suba West at Kopanga and Kogaja Villages and Muhuru Bay.^[3] There are no records for the population of the municipality arising from the 2009 Kenya National Census. It is possible that the population of the town has increased due to the growth of the size of the urban sprawl and the 2010 Constitution which made Migori town the capital of Migori County bringing workers and an assortment in investments.

Once a small administrative center inhabited only by the native Suna people and adjudicated from the then South Nyanza District headquarters of Kisii and later on Homabay Town, the town has changed gradually to become the second most vibrant and bustling economic hub in the entire Luo Nyanza after Kisumu City and third after Kisii Town in the entire Nyanza province.

Today, the Migori county headquarters is largely cosmopolitan with the influx of population from across the country due to the emerging employment and business opportunities. With the neighbouring Kisii county's lack of adequate land for expansion, Migori town is already experiencing spillover development and growth as a result of its expansive and vast swathe of land that is still available for commercial, residential and farming purposes at relatively low prices.

The near-border town is already boasting of remarkable developments in terms of infrastructure, social amenities, as well as physical development. The town's infrastructure has greatly improved, with some roads being paved and others tarmacked, opening up the interior areas for growth and expansion. The construction of Kiringi bridge and the proposed Nyikendo-Nyamanga bridge is set to open up the town for more commercial space.

The nearly Concluded tarmacking of Migori-Transmara road is expected to shorten the turnaround time of doing business with the capital city of Nairobi as its expected to reduce the current road distance by about 3 hours. The Mara road is also set to open up our town and our lake Victoria beaches to the Masai Mara game park hence spurring growth of tourism and hospitality industries.

In the last five years alone, we have seen rapid transformation, with the construction of numerous commercial buildings, mid level hotels and restaurants, emerging shopping malls, unprecedented number of supermarkets and residential flats.

Underway are plans by the county government for a modern bus terminus at Namba junction and a modern market to rid the town of roadside hawkers and stalls. The ever increasing number of financial institutions that now stands at over 10 besides numerous Sacco and micro finances crowns it all. More residential and commercial buildings are still coming up as every strategic investor seeks to lay their stake in this emerging economy.