About Migori Way Back When
Brief History of Migori County
Migori County, like much of western Kenya, was inhabited by various ethnic communities long before the arrival of European colonizers. The Luo, Kuria, and Abasuba are the primary groups that have historically lived in this region. Today’s Migori is multi-ethnic with the dominant communities being the Luo and Kuria.
The Luo people, who form the majority in Migori, migrated from South Sudan along the Nile Valley and settled around Lake Victoria by the 16th century. They were cattle herders, fishermen, and farmers. The Luo were known for their strong clan systems and customs, including ceremonies, music, and oral traditions.
The Kuria community, originally of Bantu origin, settled in the southern part of what is today Migori County. The Kuria were mainly pastoralists and farmers and developed a unique governance system, including age-sets for warriors and elders. This ancient stone-walled settlement, located in northern Migori, dates back to around the 16th century and reflects the region’s early human settlement.
The iconic Thimlich Ohinga settlement was likely used for defense and communal living, illustrating the area’s socio-political organization before colonization. The minority communities in the county include Luhya, Kikuyu, Kisii, Suba, Maasai, Somalis, Nubians, Arabs and Indians. These communities have lived harmoniously and have since leveraged on this diversity to spur growth of the area’s economy.
The British imposed new systems of governance, taxation, and forced labor. The Luo and Kuria tribes were affected by these colonial policies, which disrupted their traditional livelihoods. During the colonial period, gold was discovered in the Macalder region of Migori County in the 1930s. This led to the development of gold mines, a rush attracting both local labor and European mining companies.
Although the initial gold rush was short-lived, gold mining became a significant economic activity, though the benefits were largely enjoyed by colonial powers rather than the local population. Suna, one of the oldest towns in the county, has historical significance due to its role in early trade and gold mining activities. As with many mines in Kenya, the gold in Migori was not viable for upscales mining.
The imposition of new boundaries, land alienation, and the introduction of cash crops like tobacco and sugarcane led to resistance among local communities, particularly the Luo. With independence, Migori became part of Nyanza Province, which was the political stronghold of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first vice president. Nyanza, including Migori, has historically supported the Luo political leadership, particularly the Odinga family, making it a politically active region.
The post-independence government focused on improving infrastructure and agriculture in Migori. Sugarcane production became one of the major economic activities, with the establishment of a sugar factories at Awendo. Gold mining also continued to be a key activity, though mostly on a small scale. The South Nyanza Sugar Company Limited, Sony Sugar, one of the most recognizable industries in Migori County, established in 1976 nearby Awendo town, is still in operation.
South Nyanza Sugar Company serves over 25,000 cane farmers, the main activity in Migori County, in ten of its districts within the cane growing zones of Gucha, Suri, Transmara, Kuria, Migori, Uriri, Rongo, Kisii South, Ndhiwa and Awendo. Migori’s proximity to Tanzania facilitated cross-border trade, especially in the border town of Isebania. The county became a hub for trade between Kenya and Tanzania, leading to the growth of businesses and small-scale industries.
Today, Migori County is a vibrant region with a diverse economy. It remains an agricultural hub, producing sugarcane, tobacco, and maize. Fishing in Lake Victoria also supports local livelihoods, while artisanal gold mining continues to be a key economic activity. Towns such as Migori, Awendo, Rongo, and Isebania have seen increased growth thanks to improved infrastructure and amenities. Migori town serves as the county’s administrative and commercial center.
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 in Migori County
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.