Busia County is located in the former Western Province in the country's southwestern part, bordering Uganda to the west. The county's capital and largest town is Busia town, from which the county is named. Busia County is county number 40 in Kenya and has several administrative sub-counties that help decentralise National and County government functions and services. But which are these Busia sub-counties and wards, and what are their number of voters?
Busia County is known for its agricultural activities. Maize, sugarcane, and various types of vegetables are the main crops grown in the region. The county is also a transit point for trade between Kenya and Uganda, with the Busia border crossing being an important economic hub.
The county is bordered by Lake Victoria in the southwestern part, which provides fishing opportunities and supports diverse aquatic life.
How many sub-counties are in Busia?
The 2019 Kenyan population census showed that Busia County has 893,681 inhabitants, all occupying an area of about 1700 square kilometres. Because of this large population, the county is divided into seven sub-counties, 35 county ward assemblies, 60 locations, and 181 sub-locations. Here is a look at Busia sub-counties:
1. Teso South - 168,116
Teso South is the largest sub-county of all Busia sub-counties. The main town and administrative headquarters of Teso South is Amukura, which attracts a large population due to the trading opportunities it provides.
Teso South is known for its rich culture, as depicted by the Kakapel monument, and it has a growing hospitality and hotel industry. Also, the sub-county is significant for its border point at Malaba, which facilitates the movement of trucks between Kenya and Uganda.
Among Busia County wards, the Teso South sub-county has six wards. The wards and the registered number of voters are:
- Chakol South - 15,351
- Ang'orom - 13,730
- Amukura Central - 12,326
- Amukura East - 11,549
- Chakol North - 9,450
- Amukura West - 8,862
Teso South covers an area of 236.8 square kilometres.
2. Matayos - 142,408
Matayos is a sub-county and constituency in Busia County, Western Kenya, with 142,408 inhabitants. It covers an area of 196.2 square kilometres and is located along the Kisumu-Busia Highway.
The people of Matayos depend mainly on livestock and grains as their primary source of income. Also, the inhabitants are subsistence farmers who mainly grow cassava, white and yellow (Nyayo) maize, sweet potatoes, groundnuts, soya beans, sorghum, finger millet, yams, bananas, and beans on small pieces of land, usually an acre or less.
Matayos sub-county has five wards. The wards and the number of voters in each ward are:
- Burumba - 19,496
- Bukhayo West - 17,548
- Matayos South - 15,980
- Mayenje - 8,184
- Busibwabo - 6,500
The Bakhayo, a sub-clan of the Luhya people, mainly occupies Matayos.
3. Butula - 140,334
Butula is an electoral constituency in Kenya, located in the lower region of Busia County. It was established during the 1997 elections and is one of the seven constituencies or sub-counties in Busia County.
Economically, Butula constituency or sub-county is one of the best revenue generation areas of the county. It hosts the Bumala market, which is one of the biggest markets in Busia County and has a lot of potential for economic development.
The main economic activities include trading, farming crops (with sugarcane as the main cash crop) and livestock farming. Butula sub-county has six wards. The wards and the number of voters in each ward are:
- Marachi North - 12,937
- Marachi West - 11,575
- Marachi Central - 11,685
- Marachi East - 11,105
- Elugulu - 10,169
- Kingandole - 9,906
Butula sub-county borders Siaya County and Kakamega County. The Marachi sub-tribe and Luo tribe mainly occupy the Sub County.
4. Teso North - 138,034
Teso North is a constituency in Busia County, Kenya. It was created in 2013 after the split of the Amagoro constituency into two to form Teso North and Teso South. The constituency is one of seven constituencies or sub-counties in Busia County and is part of the larger Western Kenya region.
Teso North has a population of 138,034 inhabitants. The constituency has 44 sub-locations, which serve as the primary administrative units. Also, the sub-county has six wards. The wards and the number of voters in each ward are:
- Malaba Central - 13,248
- Malaba South -10,413
- Ang'urai North - 10,148
- Ang'urai South - 9,821
- Malaba North - 8,401
- Ang'urai East - 7,764
Teso North shares borders with the Nambale constituency to the east, the Matayos constituency to the south, the Teso South constituency to the west, and the Republic of Uganda to the north.
5. Nambale - 111,636
Nambale is a settlement in Busia County, Kenya, with a population of 111,636. It covers an area of 238.1 square kilometres and is administratively divided into four wards.
The four wards and their voter numbers are:
- Nambale Township - 17,638
- Bukhayo East - 11,614
- Bukhayo North/Waltsi - 10,945
- Bukhayo Central - 10,348
The main town in the sub-county is Nambale, which is located along the Busia-Mumias highway. The region is known for its dark clay soils, making it suitable for large-scale cash crop farming and small-scale subsistence farming.
Nambale is characterised by consistent rainfall, making rain-fed agriculture the primary economic activity. The primary crops grown in the area include tobacco, maise, coffee, cotton, and sugarcane. Furthermore, the inhabitants engage in livestock keeping and trade.
6. Samia - 107,176
Samia is a sub-county in Busia County, Kenya, located in the lower region of the county. It covers an area of 262.4 square kilometres and has a population of 107,176. People in Samia people the Samia language.
The sub-county comprises four wards. The wards and their respective number of voters are:
- Namboboto Nambuku - 15,900
- Ageng'a Nanguba - 14,284
- Nangina - 12,527
- Bwiri - 11,320
Samia sub-county borders Siaya County, Bunyala Sub-County, and Uganda. The region is known for its dark clay soils, making it suitable for large-scale cash crop farming and small-scale subsistence farming.
However, most economic activities include fishing due to the sub-county's strategic location along Lake Victoria. Other economic activities include the mining and construction industry.
7. Bunyala - 85,977
Bunyala is a sub-county located in the lower region of Busia County, Kenya. It is one of Busia's most economically vibrant sub-counties, with fishing being the dominant economic activity.
Bunyala sub-county has a population of 85,977 inhabitants. The sub-county has four wards represented by a Member of the County Assembly. The wards and the respective number of voters are:
- Bunyala West - 14,863
- Bunyala North - 13,637
- Bunyala South - 9,807
- Bunyala Central - 7,725
Besides fishing, other significant economic activities include large-scale irrigation farming, with the Bunyala irrigation scheme being a major rice-producing area. The Marachi and Luo tribes mainly occupy the sub-county.
Wrapping up
Busia County is county number 40 in Kenya. It has 893,681 inhabitants based on the 2019 Kenyan Census. The county is divided into seven sub-counties that help in administrative functions. The seven Busia Sub-Counties are Teso South, Matayos, Butula, Teso North, Nambale, Samia, and Bunyala. Besides the seven sub-counties, Busia County has 35 county ward assemblies, 60 locations, and 181 sub-locations.
Tuko.co.ke shared an article about Kitui Sub-Counties. Kitui County is located in the former Eastern province of Kenya. It is further divided into sub-counties and wards.
There are eight sub-counties and forty wards in Kitui. The county's population is approximately 1,136,187, according to the 2019 census data report.
