Kisumu County is county 042 of Kenya’s 47 counties, on the north-eastern shore of Lake Victoria in the former Nyanza Province. Its capital is Kisumu City, Kenya’s third largest city, and the 2019 census counted 1,155,574 residents on 2,085.9 km². The lake arm the county sits on is the Winam Gulf, also called the Kavirondo Gulf.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Capital | Kisumu City |
| County code | 042 |
| Population (2019 census) | 1,155,574 |
| Population (2023 projection) | 1,248,474 |
| Area | 2,085.9 km² |
| Former province | Nyanza |
| Sub-counties | 7 |
| Main languages | Dholuo, Swahili, English |
Towns and Villages in Kisumu County
Kisumu City dominates the county, but the Kano Plains behind it carry a dense grid of sugar towns, rice centres and lakeshore villages. Muhoroni, Ahero, Maseno, Katito and Awasi are the main centres outside the city.
| Town | Type | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Kisumu | City, county capital | 397,957 (2019 census) |
| Muhoroni | Town | 15,217 (estimate) |
| Ahero | Town | 11,801 (estimate) |
| Maseno | Town (university) | 6,771 (estimate) |
| Katito | Town | 5,098 (estimate) |
| Awasi | Town | 5,052 (estimate) |
| Rabuor | Town | 2,942 (estimate) |
The gazetteer records 152 named settlements and city estates in Kisumu County. All 152 are listed below.
- Abwao
- Ahero
- Alendu
- Alungo
- Alwala
- Amimos
- Andingo
- Angoga
- Angoro
- Apoko
- Apondo
- Arombo
- Assawa
- Awach
- Awasi
- Ayweyo
- Bar
- Barkorwa
- Bodi
- Bonde
- Bunde
- Bungu Meri
- Buoye
- Bware
- Chemelil
- Cherwa
- Chiga
- Chulaimbo
- Darajambili
- Dirubi
- Gem
- Gu
- Holo
- Kabete
- Kadero
- Kagimba
- Kajimbo
- Kajulu
- Kaloka
- Kaloleni
- Kamuga
- Kanyamedha
- Kasiango
- Katito
- Katolo
- Kibigori
- Kibogo
- Kiboko
- Kibos
- Kiboswa
- Kigoche
- Kipasi
- Kisian
- Kisumu
- Kombewa
- Kondik
- Konywere
- Koru
- Kotetini
- Kusa
- Lela
- Lisana
- Luora Ayweyo
- Magare
- Magunga
- Magwar
- Manuanda
- Manyatta A
- Mariwa
- Maseno
- Masogo
- Mbora
- Mbugra
- Migere
- Miranga
- Mirieri
- Miriu
- Miwani
- Muhoroni
- Mutet
- Nanga
- Ndiru
- Ndori
- Nduru
- Ngere
- Ngutu
- Noki
- Nyabondo
- Nyagbongo
- Nyalenda
- Nyalunya
- Nyamarimba
- Nyamaroka
- Nyamasaria
- Nyangeta
- Nyang’ande
- Nyang’oma
- Nyaridi
- Nyatao
- Nyatigo
- Nyawanga
- Nyong ong’a
- Obambo
- Obange
- Obera
- Obumba
- Obwolo
- Odienya
- Ojola
- Okana
- Okanowach
- Olemba
- Ombaka
- Ombeyi
- Ongalo
- Ong’eche
- Onjiko
- Onywongo
- Oren
- Orongo
- Oruga
- Paponditi
- Pau Akuche
- Pundo Kotuono
- Rabuor
- Rae
- Ragen
- Rakwaro
- Rambara
- Ramula
- Ranjira
- Rapoe
- Rata
- Reru
- Sabembe
- Sangoburu
- Sangoro
- Sangorota
- Sianda
- Sigoti
- Sinyolo
- Siriba
- Songhor
- Tamu
- Thur Gem
- Thurdibuoro
- Tieng’re
- Ugwe
- Wang’anga
- Wathorego
- Withur
- Yogo
Geography
The county wraps the head of the Winam Gulf at about 1,144 metres above sea level. Behind the shore lie the flat Kano Plains, which flood in heavy rain. Beyond them the ground climbs to the Nandi Escarpment and the Nyabondo plateau.
The Nyando, Sondu Miriu, Kibos and Awach rivers all reach the lake here, and their silt built the plains. Rainfall runs 1,000 to 1,800 mm a year in two seasons, and daytime temperatures on the lakeshore sit near 30°C.
Kisumu borders Siaya County to the west, Vihiga County to the north and Nandi County to the north-east. Kericho County lies to the east, Nyamira County to the south and Homa Bay County to the south-west.
Demographics
The 2019 census counted 1,155,574 people: 560,942 men, 594,609 women and 23 intersex residents. Density averages about 554 people per km².
Kisumu is the most urban county in the former Nyanza Province. Some 440,906 residents were counted as urban, most of them in Kisumu City, which held 397,957 people. Dholuo is the community language, with Swahili and English in wide daily use.
Economy and Local Life
Fishing drives the lakeshore economy. Nile perch, tilapia and omena land at Dunga, Ogal, Usoma and the other gulf beaches, and the catch supplies processors and traders across the region.
Sugar is the inland mainstay, milled at Chemelil, Muhoroni and Kibos. The Ahero and West Kano irrigation schemes grow rice on the plains, and cotton, maize and sorghum fill the drier margins. Kisumu City is western Kenya’s trading, banking and university hub, and its lake port handles cargo to Uganda and Tanzania.
Getting There
Kisumu sits on the A1 highway, which runs south through Ahero to Kisii and north to Kakamega and Kitale. The B1 turns east at Ahero for Kericho, Nakuru and Nairobi, about 350 km away.
Kisumu International Airport carries daily flights to Nairobi and Mombasa. The lake port serves ferries and cargo boats; the standard gauge railway does not reach Kisumu, and passengers change to road at Naivasha or Nairobi.
FAQ
What is the capital of Kisumu County?
Kisumu City, which had 397,957 residents in the 2019 census. It is Kenya’s third largest city after Nairobi and Mombasa.
How many towns and villages are in Kisumu County?
Gazetteer data records 152 named settlements and city estates. The full list is above, from Kisumu City to single-street lakeshore villages.
Which sub-counties make up Kisumu County?
Seven: Kisumu Central, Kisumu East, Kisumu West, Muhoroni, Nyakach, Nyando and Seme.
What language is spoken in Kisumu?
Dholuo is the community language. Swahili and English are used in schools, offices and cross-border trade.
Does Kisumu have an airport?
Yes. Kisumu International Airport is about 4 km west of the city centre and runs daily scheduled flights to Nairobi.
What is the Winam Gulf?
It is the arm of Lake Victoria that Kisumu stands on, also called the Kavirondo Gulf. It links to the open lake through the Rusinga Channel.