Relic Towns in Migori
Awendo-Sori: A Century of Trade
Few towns in Kenya command a grander entry to mention in the same breath as the high-sounding Awendo town, more proper Awendo-Sori, or Sare. About 30 km from Rongo, the north gateway into Migori County, you arrive at the turnoff to Uriri, above Awendo. You begin to come down a slight dip on the road and bam! The sugarbelt unravels spectacularly, far as the eye can see, with fine hills in the distance. Oft-times, it is covered with the monochrome hue of vast cane farms. Depending on the season, the cane is grown all the way to the road’s shoulder, and the rush foliage frames it well. It is 10 km from the turnoff to Uriri to Awendo.
Awendo is not a big town by any standard. It is more or less transitory, of mainly single-level buildings along the A1 Road enroute Migori and Isebania. Instead, it is well known for its tight-knit community, reliance on sugarcane farming, trade, and scenic landscapes. While growing slowly in terms of development, Awendo has remained a peaceful, rural enclave that draws attention for its cultural mix and proximity to the Kenya-Tanzania border. The omens of its expansion is restrictions exacerbated by the nucleus sugar cane farms. Yet, the infrastructure is relatively good, with key amenities and services compared to smaller towns and centers.
Generally speaking, Awendo-Sori comprises the factory area and the urban core which in total covers an area of 5.96 Km2. Still, it has one of the largest industries in the county, South Nyanza Sugar Company. The town is in a close proximity to River Kuja and is dissected by River Sare. It is widely thought that the genesis of Awendo town coincided with the turn of the 20th Century. It grew as the Kuria people and some of their Luo kin, from as far as Tanzania mainland, exchanged cattle for goats, sheep and food crops with the Luos from as far as Kisumu. This barter exchange activity gave rise to certain routes across the Nyanza region.
At the time, much of the surrounding area was under short forest cover, and its peopling scarce and sparsely distributed in nucleated clusters, undertaking basic subsistence. In the 1920’s Awendo had not experienced any exceptional change.
It is not certain from whence Indian traders came from, as the colonial era rolled, but it is possible that they were from wither Kisumu or Kisii, where the had long established themselves in the retail and wholesale business activities. Establishing similar retail business at Awendo was merely part of their countrywide expansion of their economic hegemonies in the commerce sector. Awendo entered the 1940 with the status of a general market centre. Much of the activities were principally retail. A wholesale outlet, as well as a posho mill was established during this era.
In 1953, Awendo Sori was surveyed as a propect for the South Nyanza African Market Center. The idea did not fly, as the status was cancelled and transferred to Ochuna, of present Ranen, 6 km north. The African traders were forced out and were only allowed to carry their trade at Ochuna. Only the Asian remained at the Awendo-Sare trading centre. The order of displacing the African traders out of Awendo remained in force till 1961, when it was abrogated. The Africans were allocated plots within Sare centre, previously set exclusively for Asian traders.
A turning point for Awendo came in 1978, when South Nyanza Sugar Company, dubbed SONY sugar, was established here. The following year, the colonial government, out of its zeal to control African activities and generate revenues, instituted a temporary structure next to the exchange ground to act as an office where registration of animals and taxation were done. As trade and infrastructure grew, so did the town’s area, to allow more premises, bringing the total area to 6.3 acres. In the 1980s, the Government of Kenya compulsorily acquired large swaths of land in order, to allow South Nyanza Sugar Company expand its cane farmland.
Historic towns around the world offer a glimpse into the past, preserving architecture, culture, and stories from different eras. In Kenya, some of the oldest towns are found along the coast, where medieval trade put on the map long before developments in the hinterland. Among these is Lamu town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its Swahili architecture and cultural traditions.
Index of Relic & Historic Towns Around Kenya
Baringo County - Tambach, Homa Bay County - Old Kendu Bay Town, Isiolo County - Isiolo Town, Garba Tula, Kilifi County - Old Town Takaungu, Mambrui, Kwale County - Old Town Vanga, Vumba Kuu, Kwale, Lamu County - Lamu Old Town, Witu, Shela, Faza, Manda, Mandera County - El Wak, Migori County - Awendo-Sori, Mombasa County - Old Town Mombasa, Nyandarua County - Njabini town, Samburu County - Archer's Post, Tana River County - Old Town Kipini, Wajir County - Old Town Wajir
Migori is a diverse and culturally rich county with vast agricultural potential, significant mineral resources, and proximity to important cross-border trade routes. While it faces challenges, Migori County offers great opportunities for touring, especially with attractions like Thimlich Ohinga and Lake Victoria.
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Explore Destinations Nearby Awendo-Sori, Sare
A Guide to Migori County
A Summa Digest of Migori
About Migori Way Back When
22 Destinations in Migori County, arranged as one would visit these - east, north, south then west - with aid of in-depth narratives, images, maps and distance chart:
Rongo Town, Treat House Resort, Gogo Falls, Gogo Falls Prehistoric Site, Awendo Town, Got Kwer Shrine, Mugabo Caves, Muhuru Bay, Lobby Resort, Migingo Island, Lake Victoria Sanctuary, Macalder Mines, Kuja River, Kuja Irrigation Scheme, Thimlich Ohinga Landscape, Chinato Crying Stone, Nyaandui Forest, Komotobo Mission Church, Kebharisia Dam, Nyamiencho Coffee Farm, Trans Mara Forest Conservation Area
Know More About Migori County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
What’s The Air Like In Migori?
Temperatures in Migori range between 24oC and 31oC. The driest months are December to February. Long rains occur between March and May.
What’s The Lay Of The Land In C.44?
The altitude in Migori ranges between 1140 ms about Lake Victoria in Nyatike to 4625 ms in Uriri.Undulating hills covers much of the county with few stretches of arable flat land.