Islands in Migori County
Migingo Island: Who Owns This Tiny Island?
Anyone interested in a cultural passage into the rarefied and fascinating life of a fishing village ought to visit Migingo Island. Incredibly small, being little more than a rock jutting out of the water, about half the size of a soccer field, or 0.49-acres, Migingo Island is lauded for its nile perch. It lies 10 km from the Kenyan mainland, seaward across from Muhuru Bay, slightly closer to the Ugandan coastline.
Covered entirely by iron-clad humpies and makeshift structures with no room spare, practically to the waters edge, it draws in anglers from war and wide eager to exploit its lucrative fishing grounds, rallied by the ever-increasing price of nile perch. While the island itself is small, its location in the middle of Lake Victoria makes it geopolitically significant, particularly because of the rich fishing grounds surrounding it. Most of these tin shacks house fishermen and small businesses.
Around the pier is an ever-present flotilla of small fishing boats, many preferring to angle by night. Most fishermen don’t own a boat. They have to pay 80 percent of their catch to boat owners on the mainland. On the island, about 400 people go about life, along narrow isles and pathways, with few amenities and luxuries. Migingo Island has limited infrastructure. There is no running water or sanitation system, and electricity is only available through generators. Yet, despite its small size, the population of Migingo Island fluctuates between 400 to 500 people.
Besides fishing, there are small businesses on the island, including shops, bars, and restaurants that cater to the needs of the residents. Most of the trade on the island revolves around the fish market, where traders buy fish directly from fishermen and sell supplies like nets and fuel. The exact ownership of Migingo Island has been a source of tension between Kenya and Uganda since the early 2000s. Both nations claim sovereignty over the island and its surrounding waters.
Previously co-managed by both countries, with tensions occasionally flaring up, Migingo Island, in 2009, made headlines when it was openly claimed by both Kenya and Uganda. Both parties contested a drive by an independent survey which claimed it was 510 ms beyond Kenya’s maritime boundary, in Uganda. At the height of the dispute, Uganda stationed its police and military personnel on the island, causing friction with Kenyan fishermen. Uganda enforced fishing regulations and even taxed the fishermen, leading to complaints from Kenya.
The findings were also backed by Google Earth Imagery. Contrariwise, since 1926, territorial ownership of the island has been consistently shown on maps and in language on official documents as Kenyan. As of now, both Kenyan and Ugandan fishermen continue to operate on the island, and the two countries have largely managed the dispute through diplomatic channels, though tensions occasionally flare. The larger, non controversial, Usingo Island sits about 3 km from Migingo.
Kenya is home to several beautiful islands, each offering unique attractions and experiences. Mombasa, a term interchangeably used to refer to the city and county, is the most developed. Further north, Lamu Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is an enchanting destination. Overall, islands in Kenya offer a mix of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and recreational activities, making them popular.
Index of Islands Around Kenya
Baringo County - Lokoros, Rongena, Lengai, Devil’s, Samatian, Ol kokwe, Parmolos, Embu County - Gichuki, Homa Bay County - Rusinga, Ngodhe, Mfangano, Takawiri, Mbasa, Ringiti, Kilifi County - Sudi, Robinson, Kirepwe, Kisumu County - Ndere, Mageto, Kwale County - Chale, Wasini, Kisite-Mpunguti, Funzi, Sii, Lamu County - Lamu, Manda, Manda Toto, Kiwayu, Pate, Shindamwe, Machakos County - Gichuki, Migori County - Migingo, Usingo, Ugongo, Mombasa County - Mombasa, Nakuru County - Crescent, Turkana County - North, Central, South, Naperito Cathedral Rock
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 Migingo Island
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
Temperatures in Migori range between 24oC and 31oC. The driest months are December to February. Long rains occur between March and May.
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.