History and origin of Busia County

The two travelled to the District Commissioner’s (D.C.’s) headquarters in Bungoma and to the office of the Boundaries Commission in Kisumu to convince administrators of the need for a district for the Luyia, Teso, and Saboat communities of the western region.

Securing the district was a difficult task. It led to a confrontation between Okondo and the then Central Nyanza senator, Dickson Oruko Makasembo, popularly known as D.O. Makasembo. The Luo, led by Oginga Odinga, opposed the removal of Ruambwa Constituency from Central Nyanza to Elgon Nyanza.

At the time, Samia Location and Ruambwa Constituency were in Central Nyanza, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was the area Member of Parliament. The Abaluyia struggled to elect one of their own in the Luo-dominated constituency, where Odinga enjoyed overwhelming support.

According to Okondo’s close confidant, Opiyo Odoke, the confrontation began when Okondo arrived late for a meeting called to discuss the constituency’s status. The watchman had been instructed not to open the gate for him. Okondo reversed his Mercedes-Benz into the gate, forced it open, and entered the meeting.

Odoke says Makasembo pushed Okondo when he saw him. In anger, Okondo used traditional Abanyala wrestling techniques to lift Makasembo and bring him to the ground. He sat on him and began to strangle him before the two were separated. Okondo then joined the meeting.

Mukudi and Okondo also had difficulty convincing colonial administrators that the proposed district was large enough. The administrators described it as “too narrow” to form a district.

Okondo’s relative, Moses Kaywa, says Okondo went to the D.C.’s office carrying a concealed map of the district in Britain from which the D.C. came. He took the map from his pocket and showed it to the administrator. “Compared with yours, your home district is six times smaller than what we are proposing,” Okondo said, according to Kaywa. Kaywa says the D.C. looked at Okondo, smiled and told him, “You are very intelligent.” That, he says, sealed the deal.

The history and origin of Busia County can be traced to the politics of colonial Samia Location, which was placed at different times in North Kavirondo and Central Kavirondo districts, later renamed North Nyanza and Central Nyanza.

When the British colonial administration established Kavirondo District, it covered the present-day Western and Nyanza regions, with its headquarters at Mumias. The district was later divided into North and Central Kavirondo. North Kavirondo was renamed North Nyanza and headquartered at Mumias, while Central Kavirondo became Central Nyanza, headquartered at Kisumu.

In 1909, Nabongo Mumia was made Paramount Chief over the tribal rulers of the predominantly Luyia North Nyanza. At the time, Bunyala South was ruled by Namwonja Mukudi; Bunyala North by Ngira Ng’ayo; Usonga by Jaganyi Anyande; Samia North by Ngira Odongo; and Samia South, also known as Bukhekhe, by Omanyo Odongo.

Mumia posted his brother Kadima as headman of the area. Kadima was confirmed as area chief in 1913, and the traditional chiefs were reduced to his headmen. Namwonja Mukudi and Ngira Ng’ayo were succeeded by their sons, Mukudi and Omala, respectively.

Omala and his brother Kundu were arrested and taken to Kismayu for agitating against Kadima and the British. Omala died there. He was replaced by his brother Oyuolo, who was poisoned by Kadima. Oyuolo’s death deepened the people’s resentment of Kadima’s cruelty.

The headmen subsequently refused to attend Kadima’s barazas, prompting him to appoint people loyal to him. When he ordered residents to take the kipande (identity card) and register as Bantu, the Abakhekhe of Samia South, the Abanyala and the Abasonga refused. They demanded to register as “Manyala Luo” and “Basonga Luo” so they could move from Chief Mumia’s North Nyanza to Luo-dominated Central Nyanza.

Samia Location was placed under Central Nyanza, but Kadima remained its chief. The Abasamia of Samia North, who were more friendly to Kadima, chose to remain in North Nyanza. Those of Samia South, the Abakhekhe, joined the Abasonga and Abanyala in Central Nyanza District.

Unhappy that Kadima remained their chief, the people marched to the Provincial Commissioner’s office in Kisumu to demand his removal. At a public meeting in Nangosia, near Nangina, in 1927, Kadima resigned. Mukudi Namwonja was immediately and unanimously elected area chief by the cheering crowd.

In 1957, Africans were allowed to vote and elect representatives to the Legislative Assembly (LegCo) for the first time. That year, Ruambwa Constituency was created for the people of Samia Location. Its exact size could not be established by the time of going to press. However, it appears that the constituency covered much of Central Nyanza, including what is now Siaya County.

The area had two senatorial and two parliamentary seats. Makasembo was the senator for Luo Nyanza, while James Waggagi Machio of Samia South represented Luyia Nyanza in the Senate. Oginga Odinga was the MP for Luyia Nyanza, and Argwings Kodhek was the MP for Luo Nyanza.

When general elections were held again in 1958 and 1961, Odinga retained his seat. James Osogo and other Luyia candidates contested unsuccessfully. The Luyia then intensified their campaign for a district of their own, believing they could not secure parliamentary representation in a Luo-dominated constituency.

In 1963, Ruambwa Constituency was removed from Central Nyanza and placed in the newly created Elgon Nyanza District. The district brought together the Bukusu of Bungoma, the Luyia of Busia, the Teso, and the Saboat of Mount Elgon, with its headquarters at Bungoma.

The Abasonga chose to remain in Central Nyanza after Jaramogi Odinga prevailed upon them to denounce the Luyia. Ruambwa Constituency was renamed Samia-Bunyala Constituency.

In the May 1963 general election, James Nakhwanga Osogo became the MP for Samia-Bunyala. Busia District was created the same year.