Migori is a cosmopolitan settlement area, inhabited by settlers from far and wide. However, the predominant early settlers here were the Suna sub clan, many who arrived here in the early 19th century, driving away the Maa sub clans and wild animals deep into to the Mara region. Wild animals roamed the area for many parts of the 19th century, causing a great friction between the early settlers and the wild animals as they continued to destroy crops and indiscriminately kill livestock.
People and animals were attracted to the beautiful geographic landscape and the prevailing climatic condition of the area. Most part of Migori is agriculturally rich with nurturing rainfall well distributed throughout the year. The seasonal streams flowing into river Gori (Migori) were very vital for the early settlers and the animals that inhabited the jungle all through to the Mara region. The source of river Gori is traceable to the western escarpment of the greater rift valley, meandering through the Mara all through to Lake Victoria.
Some of the early arrivals included the Kaksingri-Waregi, Wasio, the Wasweta, and suna wasimbeti to the west. It assumed these were all Luo- subas who moved eastwards from the shores of Lake Victoria, with a close link to the wagassi and Kaksingri clans around the lake.
Before the last constituency review, the expansive constituency included Suna East, Suna west and Kanyamkago (now Uriri). Major political battles fought here was between the suna and the Kanyamkago clans with the late Lawrence Oguda and the Late John Henry Okwanyo relying on the numerical strength of their respective clans for support. Okwanyo association with the late Tom Thomas Mboya and the numerical strength of the suna sub clans gave him an upper hand against his political adversaries until his shock defeat by one Simeon Gor Misiani, an economist turned politician from Chunge, Rapogi. Gor stay at the helm was short lived, when he was trounced by Okwanyo again in the next general election. Migori was by and large an Okwanyo’s led constituency under the Nyayo single party era until the introduction of the multi party politics in the 1990’s that ushered in youthful faces like Owino jalikowa, a youthful banker that took the area by storm to romp to parliament in his first attempt. Since then, the constituency has changed hands between Likowa, Owino Achola and the incumbent Mp, John D. Pesa.
In comparison to other parts of Kenya, Migori constituency is lagging behind in development, education in particular. With schools like Rapogi, Kanga, Pe-hill, Ulanda and Kanyawanga hived to the new Rongo District, Migori district only notable giants are far below the mark in national ranking. They include Nyabisawa Girls, Migori School, Kadika Girls and the fast emerging Wasio School. A greater effort from all the stakeholders is now required than ever before to uplift the education standards within the district.
Water remains a big issue for the residents of this area. Other than the town residents who have tapped water, women and children trek long distances in search of clean drinking water from streams dotted along the constituency. Many hours are lost by the residents in search of water yet tones of water are wasted annually due too poor conservation methods. The government and the local leaders must make water a priority issue in their development agenda.
Most roads, other than the Migori-Kisii road are in bad shape yet this is an area endowed agriculturally, producing tones of cash crops and food stuffs. In most parts of the year, roads here are impassible, leaving farmers with the burden of transporting their tobacco, sugarcane, bananas or maize to the selling points. A lot is left behind to rot as transportation cost is hiked due to the state of the roads. With the advocacy by the government to the youths to take farming seriously and also to invest in the rural areas, on would expect the government to heavily invest on the infrastructure to lure more youths back home. Until this is done, the rural investments plans will always remain elusive life long dream for the people of Migori Constituency.
Patrick L Opondi,
Wasio-Migori
