Do you know of a town in Mulembe, vibrant and growing, that sits at the confluence of major roads and is plainly called Makutano? We scoured the landscape of the former Western province and couldn’t find one. Our diversity in language and expressiveness, this parts of Kenya, means that we could never. And so we named these loci of urbanization anything but by the Swahili word Makutano.
In a book first published in 1968, Geography of Modernization in Kenya, the author Edward William Soja elects Kisumu and the area surrounding the lakeside city, as one of the four nuclei for modernization in Kenya. He defines the four nuclei as areas that ‘contain the major focal points of political integration and the prime generators, transformers, interpreters, and distributors of the forces of change.’
Fast forward to the 21st century, and this vision persists. Especially given that modern realities, in particular mega infrastructure projects, have not only geographically expanded the area in question beyond Maragoli, Tirek and Bunyore Vihiga, but also accelerated the pace at which this vision is to be eventually realized.
WHAT’S IN A NAME: WHY ISN’T THERE A MAJOR TOWN IN MULEMBE NAMED MAKUTANO?
In all this, as always, it’s the subtle, yet progressive changes in the countenance of urban outposts – towns, market centers cities- that betrays the socioeconomic changes occurring underneath the surface. In a nutshell, this phenomenon, where clustering of human activity emerges almost out of the dust, is the story of the tens of vibrant towns all across Kenya which go by the name Makutano.
There is a Makutano Machumvi in Machakos. Another one at Masii in the same county from which a confluence of roads that lead to all corners of Ubukamba meet. There is one in Meru, Isiolo and even Kirinyaga/Embu. It goes without saying that all are vibrant urban centers. The following overview introduces us to Western Kenya urban centers that specimens of this phenomenon. These towns in mulembe are our answers to towns that have been plainly named Makutano elsewhere in Kenya.
KAMUKUYWA IN BUNGOMA COUNTY THREATENS TO SUCK THE LIFE OUT OF NEIGHBORING KIMILILI
This vibrant town in Mulembe sits at the intersection of major highways, the Webuye-Kitale section of the Kisumu-Kakamega-Webuye-Kitale highway, and the road to Bungoma through Kimilili. From Kamukuywa, one also can get on a road that leads to Kapsokwony up in Mt. Masaba.
Kamukuywa is a popular destination for traders seeking fresh farm produce. All year round, tomatoes, onions and vegetables make their way from the fertile slopes of Mt. Elgon to be traded and then shipped across the country.
LUANDA, THE MOST COMMERCIALLY VIBRANT TOWN IN MULEMBE, THIS SIDE OF THE NZOIA
Luanda is an important town that sits close to the border of Vihiga, Kisumu and by a shot Siaya Counties. It can be argued that Luanda is Vihiga County’s commercial capital. One thing is for certain though, Luanda is Vihiga’s, if not Mulembe’s, meat capital. I would argue that Luanda has the highest concentration of pork and beef butcheries per square mile.
It also must have the highest concentration of street food peddlers hawking bone soup, roast ox tongue, ox gonads, mutura and nyama ya kichwa in Western Kenya. However, as one indulges in these meat delights, be warned that it’s rumored that most meat here is ‘local’. This is to say that the meat is not certified.
MYANGA IN BUMULA, BUNGOMA COUNTY
Myanga town is found in Bumula constituency. It sits smack in the middle of Kimaeti ward a few kilometers off the midway point of the Kanduyi-Malaba highway. Thanks to an impressive network of dirt roads that meet at the town, it attracts traders from Kakamega, Bungoma and Busia counties. Myanga is particularly famous for animal trading.
BUMALA IN BUSIA COUNTY WAS ONCE THE ONLY TOWN IN MULEMBE WITH A CERTAIN PIECE OF MODERNITY
Bumala town that sits at the confluence of major arteries in Western Kenya. The road network in Bumala can connect one to Siaya through Ugunja. One can also head on to Funyula, Port Victoria and Sio Port in Busia. Through the Bumala-Ejinja road, one heads on to Matungu in Kakamega county. This road terminates on the Mayoni- Busia road through which one can reach Bungoma and Kakamega counties.
Beyond that, Bumala is your everyday market whose market day is on every Saturday. Before we leave this town in Mulembe, that is today one of the most important Oluyia of Abamarachi, an interesting piece of trivia. Bumala town is said to be home to the first building in Mulembe to have a lift. The lift was in Western Comfort Hotel said to be owned by former Permanent Secretary, and current Member Of Parliament for Butula Hon. Oyula, Joseph H. Maero.
WEBUYE, BUNGOMA COUNTY SADLY REMAINS THE ONLY TOWN IN MULEMBE, ELECTED TO BE AN INDUSTRIAL HUB
Webuye town sits on the Nairobi-Malaba highway. In our post on Kwa Dina in Webuye, we traced the precolonial to present day history of the only industrial town in Mulembe. In the article, town came about majorly because of the Pan African Paper Mills. Webuye town also attracts traders from Kakamega and the larger Bungoma counties.
KHUMUSALABA IN VIHIGA COUNTY IS HARD TO FORGET ONCE YOU GET WHAT IT NAME MEANS
Khumusalaba when literally translated means: “on the cross”. The name to this market may have come about because of the convergence of major roads that form a cross. One of the roads leads to Busia through Yala. The other takes one to Kakamega through Sabatia.
From Sabatia, one can head on back, slicing through Kakamega county, and passing by Bukura Agricultural College to Sigalagala National polytechnic on the Kisumu-Kakamega road. Also from this Sabatia, not the Vihiga Sabatia, Butere and Mumias are on by linking roads. Further, from Khumusalaba, the Vihiga county towns of Stendi Kisa, Chavakali and Mbale are in sight. Moreover, the Southern parts of Siaya counties are within reach.
CHWELE
Chwele market is one of the busiest markets in the republic. The town has two market days. That is, Mondays and Saturdays. Chwele sits right at the foot of Mt. Masaba. It is known as a trading center for the rich agricultural produce from the mountain and the animals from the foothills of the mountain. Chwele town basically runs the economy of Sirisia constituency. Through dirt roads that runs through Sichei and Musese, it connects to the highway. Moreover, through Mayanje market, it connects to Kanduyi and Bungoma.
