{"id":24,"date":"2026-07-02T01:18:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T01:18:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/kenya\/western\/bungoma\/"},"modified":"2026-08-01T07:53:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T07:53:08","slug":"bungoma","status":"publish","type":"western","link":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/kenya\/western\/bungoma\/","title":{"rendered":"Bungoma"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bungoma County is county 039 of Kenya’s 47, in the former Western Province. Bungoma town is the capital, and the 2019 census counted 1,670,570 residents across 2,206.9 km² — the fifth most populous county in the country.<\/p>\n

The county runs from the Kenyan slopes of Mount Elgon down to the sugar belt on the Nzoia River. Most people speak Lubukusu, the largest Luhya dialect, with Sabaot spoken on the mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Fact<\/th>\nValue<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Capital<\/th>\nBungoma<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
County code<\/th>\n039<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Population<\/th>\n1,670,570 (2019 census)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Area<\/th>\n2,206.9 km²<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Former province<\/th>\nWestern<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sub-counties<\/th>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Main languages<\/th>\nLubukusu, Lutachoni, Sabaot, Swahili, English<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Towns and Villages in Bungoma County<\/h2>\n

Three Bungoma towns were counted separately at the 2019 census. The smaller centres below carry gazetteer estimates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Town<\/th>\nType<\/th>\nPopulation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Bungoma<\/td>\nCounty capital<\/td>\n68,031<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kimilili<\/td>\nTown<\/td>\n56,050<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Webuye<\/td>\nTown<\/td>\n42,642<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chwele<\/td>\nMarket town<\/td>\n9,797<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kapsokwony<\/td>\nSub-county HQ<\/td>\n7,077<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Malikisi<\/td>\nMarket town<\/td>\n4,319<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Gazetteer records list 154 named settlements across the county’s nine sub-counties. All 154 are listed below.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Bisunu<\/li>\n
  2. Bokoli<\/li>\n
  3. Bukembe<\/li>\n
  4. Bukokholo<\/li>\n
  5. Bulondo<\/li>\n
  6. Bungoma<\/li>\n
  7. Busakala<\/li>\n
  8. Chebosi<\/li>\n
  9. Chebukaka<\/li>\n
  10. Chebukwa<\/li>\n
  11. Chekulo<\/li>\n
  12. Chelebei<\/li>\n
  13. Chemukwabi<\/li>\n
  14. Chenjeni<\/li>\n
  15. Chepkube<\/li>\n
  16. Cheptai<\/li>\n
  17. Chesamisi<\/li>\n
  18. Chesikaki<\/li>\n
  19. Chiliba<\/li>\n
  20. Chomoge<\/li>\n
  21. Chwele<\/li>\n
  22. Kabuchai<\/li>\n
  23. Kabukara<\/li>\n
  24. Kabula<\/li>\n
  25. Kakimanyi<\/li>\n
  26. Kamakoiwa<\/li>\n
  27. Kamasielo<\/li>\n
  28. Kamusinga<\/li>\n
  29. Kamusukiet<\/li>\n
  30. Kamutiong<\/li>\n
  31. Kanduyi<\/li>\n
  32. Kapkateny<\/li>\n
  33. Kapsakwony<\/li>\n
  34. Kapsokisio<\/li>\n
  35. Kapsokwony<\/li>\n
  36. Kaptalelia<\/li>\n
  37. Kaptama<\/li>\n
  38. Kaptanai<\/li>\n
  39. Kavujai<\/li>\n
  40. Khachonge<\/li>\n
  41. Khalala<\/li>\n
  42. Khalumuli<\/li>\n
  43. Khasoko<\/li>\n
  44. Khaweli<\/li>\n
  45. Kibabii<\/li>\n
  46. Kibichori<\/li>\n
  47. Kibingai<\/li>\n
  48. Kibingei<\/li>\n
  49. Kibochi<\/li>\n
  50. Kiboywa<\/li>\n
  51. Kibuk<\/li>\n
  52. Kigai<\/li>\n
  53. Kimaeti<\/li>\n
  54. Kimalewa<\/li>\n
  55. Kimatuni<\/li>\n
  56. Kimilili<\/li>\n
  57. Kimobo<\/li>\n
  58. Kimugui<\/li>\n
  59. Kimukungi<\/li>\n
  60. Kitinda<\/li>\n
  61. Kituni<\/li>\n
  62. Kongit<\/li>\n
  63. Kongoli<\/li>\n
  64. Kuyua<\/li>\n
  65. Kuywa<\/li>\n
  66. Laboot<\/li>\n
  67. Lugulu<\/li>\n
  68. Lugusi<\/li>\n
  69. Lukhome<\/li>\n
  70. Lukusi<\/li>\n
  71. Lutacho<\/li>\n
  72. Lutungu<\/li>\n
  73. Luuyia<\/li>\n
  74. Lwanda<\/li>\n
  75. Mabanga<\/li>\n
  76. Machakha<\/li>\n
  77. Maeni<\/li>\n
  78. Magemo<\/li>\n
  79. Mahanga<\/li>\n
  80. Majaha<\/li>\n
  81. Makatelo<\/li>\n
  82. Makhonge<\/li>\n
  83. Malaha<\/li>\n
  84. Malikisi<\/li>\n
  85. Malomonye<\/li>\n
  86. Mangana<\/li>\n
  87. Marobo<\/li>\n
  88. Masaba<\/li>\n
  89. Masindu<\/li>\n
  90. Mateka<\/li>\n
  91. Matili<\/li>\n
  92. Matisi<\/li>\n
  93. Matulo<\/li>\n
  94. Mayanja<\/li>\n
  95. Mechimeru<\/li>\n
  96. Miendo<\/li>\n
  97. Mihuu<\/li>\n
  98. Milani<\/li>\n
  99. Milo<\/li>\n
  100. Misemwa<\/li>\n
  101. Misikhu<\/li>\n
  102. Misimo<\/li>\n
  103. Muchi<\/li>\n
  104. Muhanda<\/li>\n
  105. Mukhuma<\/li>\n
  106. Mukhweya<\/li>\n
  107. Mukuyuni<\/li>\n
  108. Mulatiwa<\/li>\n
  109. Musikoma<\/li>\n
  110. Mwembula<\/li>\n
  111. Mwibale<\/li>\n
  112. Myanga<\/li>\n
  113. Nakoyonjo Lukhome<\/li>\n
  114. Nalianda<\/li>\n
  115. Nalondo<\/li>\n
  116. Namangofulo<\/li>\n
  117. Namarambi<\/li>\n
  118. Namawanga<\/li>\n
  119. Nambami<\/li>\n
  120. Namilama<\/li>\n
  121. Namorio<\/li>\n
  122. Namwacha<\/li>\n
  123. Namwela<\/li>\n
  124. Nangeni<\/li>\n
  125. Napara<\/li>\n
  126. Natiri Corner<\/li>\n
  127. Ndakaru<\/li>\n
  128. Ndengelwa<\/li>\n
  129. Ndivisi<\/li>\n
  130. Netima<\/li>\n
  131. Ngwelo<\/li>\n
  132. Nzoia<\/li>\n
  133. Omura<\/li>\n
  134. Raje<\/li>\n
  135. Richmond's Corner<\/li>\n
  136. Sangalo<\/li>\n
  137. Sasuri<\/li>\n
  138. Sibembe<\/li>\n
  139. Sichei<\/li>\n
  140. Sidikho<\/li>\n
  141. Sikusi<\/li>\n
  142. Sipala<\/li>\n
  143. Sirende<\/li>\n
  144. Sirisia<\/li>\n
  145. Siritany<\/li>\n
  146. Teremi<\/li>\n
  147. Toloso<\/li>\n
  148. Walanga<\/li>\n
  149. Wamono<\/li>\n
  150. Wangoma<\/li>\n
  151. Wariva<\/li>\n
  152. Watheka<\/li>\n
  153. Webuye<\/li>\n
  154. Yalusi<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Geography<\/h2>\n

    Bungoma occupies the plains and foothills north-east of Lake Victoria, between about 1,200 m and 4,222 m. Mount Elgon fills the north. Wagagai, the volcano’s 4,321 m summit, stands on the Ugandan side. Koitobos, at 4,222 m, is the highest point in Kenya on the massif. The Chepkitale moorland and Mount Elgon National Park cover the upper slopes.<\/p>\n

    The Nzoia River crosses the county eastwards at Webuye, joined by the Kuywa, Kibisi and Malakisi. Rainfall runs 1,200–1,800 mm a year and is reliable enough for two cropping seasons.<\/p>\n

    Bungoma borders Trans Nzoia County<\/a> to the north-east, Kakamega County<\/a> to the south-east and Busia County<\/a> to the south-west. Uganda lies to the north and west.<\/p>\n

    Altitude splits the county in two. Kanduyi, Bumula and Webuye sit on plains below 1,500 m and grow cane and maize. Mount Elgon and the upper part of Kimilili run above 2,000 m, where cooler nights suit coffee, potatoes and dairy.<\/p>\n

    Demographics<\/h2>\n

    The 2019 census recorded 1,670,570 people in 358,796 households, 812,146 men and 858,389 women. Density averages 757 people per square kilometre, but Kanduyi and Kimilili are far tighter than the Mount Elgon uplands.<\/p>\n

    The Bukusu are the largest community and the Tachoni are concentrated around Webuye and Ndivisi. The Sabaot, a Kalenjin-speaking group, hold Mount Elgon sub-county around Kapsokwony and Kaptama.<\/p>\n

    Average household size is 4.7, above the national figure, and the county added roughly 295,000 people between the 2009 and 2019 censuses.<\/p>\n

    Economy and Local Life<\/h2>\n

    Sugarcane and maize drive the county economy. Nzoia Sugar Company mills at Bokoli near Webuye, and Bungoma is one of Kenya’s largest maize-surplus counties. Coffee grows on the Mount Elgon slopes, tobacco around Malakisi, and dairy across Tongaren and Kimilili.<\/p>\n

    Webuye’s paper mill, reopened as Rai Paper, is the county’s main industrial employer. Chwele market, held on Tuesdays and Saturdays, is among the biggest open-air markets in western Kenya.<\/p>\n

    Bungoma also anchors the regional tobacco trade around Malikisi and Sirisia. Horticulture has grown on the Mount Elgon slopes, where cool nights suit potatoes, cabbages and passion fruit.<\/p>\n

    Getting There<\/h2>\n

    The A104 trunk road runs Eldoret–Webuye–Bungoma–Malaba and carries most Kenya–Uganda freight. The A1 branches north at Webuye for Kitale. Nairobi is about 400 km away and Kisumu about 110 km.<\/p>\n

    The metre-gauge Kenya–Uganda railway passes through Bungoma on its way to the Malaba border. The nearest airport is Eldoret International, roughly 80 km east.<\/p>\n

    Bungoma town, Webuye and Kimilili all hold daily markets, and the county runs one of the densest networks of rural trading centres in Kenya. Boda-boda transport links them to the trunk roads.<\/p>\n

    FAQ<\/h2>\n

    What is the capital of Bungoma County?<\/h3>\n

    Bungoma town, with a 2019 census urban population of 68,031.<\/p>\n

    How many towns and villages are in Bungoma County?<\/h3>\n

    Gazetteer records name 154 settlements, all listed on this page.<\/p>\n

    Which sub-counties make up Bungoma?<\/h3>\n

    Nine: Mount Elgon, Sirisia, Kabuchai, Bumula, Kanduyi, Webuye East, Webuye West, Kimilili and Tongaren.<\/p>\n

    What is the population of Bungoma County?<\/h3>\n

    1,670,570 at the 2019 census, on 2,206.9 km².<\/p>\n

    Is Mount Elgon in Bungoma County?<\/h3>\n

    Yes. The Kenyan side of Mount Elgon lies in Bungoma’s Mount Elgon sub-county, headquartered at Kapsokwony. Koitobos, 4,222 m, is the highest point in Kenya on the mountain.<\/p>\n

    Which is the largest market in Bungoma?<\/h3>\n

    Chwele market in Kabuchai, trading mainly on Tuesdays and Saturdays.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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