Bunyore is a location in Vihiga district in the western province of Kenya, largely occupied by speakers of the Nyole dialect of the Luhya tribe. In the local language, the place is known as Ebunyole and its people Abanyole. It is divided into eight locations namely Central Bunyore, West Bunyore, South Bunyore, South-West Bunyore, East Bunyore, North Bunyore, North East Bunyore, and Wekhomo. Pr
ior to 1990, Bunyore was a location under Kakamega District, divided into East and West Bunyore sublocations. As new divisions were created, the former West Bunyore was split into Central, West, South and South West locations while the former East Bunyore was split into North, North East, Wekhomo and East Bunyore locations.
Bunyore is home to the national headquarters of the Church of God in Kenya, Bunyore Girls’ High School and Kima School of Theology all of which are located at Kima. A significant town in Bunyore is Luanda, Kenya located on the Kisumu-Busia Highway. Maseno University, in the neighboring Maseno town is less than 6 miles from Kima.
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Central Bunyore Location:
1. Ebukanga Sublocation - includes, Ebukobelo, Ebung'anga, Emmabwi, A'ananda, Emmatse, Essunza, Isanda and Munjiti.
2. Embali Sublocation - includes Ebuyangu, Ebuyalu, Esikhuyu, Musanda and Mundika.
3. Ebutongoi Sublocation - includes Emusire, Emanyinya, Ebutongoi-Ebukanga, Emmuchula, Esirulo, Essaba, and Mwichio.
West Bunyore Location:
1. Ebusiekwe Sublocation - includes Esibila, Ipali, Itumbu, Esumba, Duka Moja, Mwichekhe and Emmukolla
2. Ebusiralo Sublocation - includes Ebusiralo, Ekamanji and Ematenje
3. Ebusikhale Sublocation - includes Epang’a, Mumboha, Emmayoka, and Ebusokho.
South Bunyore Location:
1. Ebwiranyi Sublocation
2. Ekwanda Sublocation
3. Ebusakami Sublocation - includes Essabalu,
South West Bunyore Location:
1. Ebutanyi Sublocation - includes Emmukusa
2. Esiandumba Sublocation - includes Emmuli Emaloba .
3. Mwitubwi Sublocation - includes Ebusubi Mundichili, Khwipang’a, and Ekatieno.
North Bunyore Location:
1. Ebulonga Sublocation -
2. Emakunda Sublocation - includes Emmang’ali, Ilungu and Emmukunji.
3. Ebusiratsi Sublocation - includes Emastuli, Mukhombe, Ebukhaya and Ebukhubi
North East Bunyore Location:
1. Ebunangwe Sublocation
2. Ebusamia Sublocation - (not to be confused with Samia),
3. Ebusiloli Sublocation - Emusutswi, Ebukhunza
East Bunyore Location:
1. Eb’bayi Sublocation -
2. Esianda Sublocation -
3. Emutsalwa Sublocation -
Wekhomo Location:
1. Ebuusundi Sublocation -
2. Iboona Sublocation - includes Emmutete and Emuhaya
Bunyore is located approximately between 0.083 latitude and 34.617 longitude. Two main rivers and about four smaller seasonal streams run through the area. The two main rivers are river Yala and Esalwa. Ejorodani (Jordan) is a tributary of river Yala and Etsava (pronounced E'chaaba in Lunyore and Edzava in Maragoli) is a tributary of Esalwa. River Yala runs through Bunyore from Nandi hills and Maragoli into Gem in Siaya. There are numerous hills and valleys in Bunyore characterized by huge granite stones. Some of the stones are as tall as 15 meters high and cover an eighth of a mile. The tallest hills, Ebuhando hills, border Maragoli to the west and are adjacent to Maseno Mission Hospital. From these hills one can well see as far as Lake Victoria and most parts of Kisumu town. Other high hills in the region include Emmutete Khusikulu, Ebusiekwe hills , Ebutongoi Khusikulu and Musikulu Ha-Buchichi. Huge granite rocks are scattered in Bunyore with a significant one located at Ekhakamba in Ebuyangu on the Buyangu-Ebukanga road.
Bunyore has an equatorial climate with fairly well distributed rainfall throughout the year. The precipitation ranges between 1750mm and 2000mm, with peaks in March to June and October to November. Temperatures range is between 14°C and 32°C with a mean temperature of 23°C. The climate is well suited for agricultural activities.
Most sublocations in Bunyore hold a farmers' market at least once or twice a week. The Leading market is Luanda Market. Other markets are Ipali Market, Mwibona Market, Magada (Emakata) Market, Wemilabi Market, Kima Market, Ilungu Market, Esibuye Market, Mwichio Market, Mwituha/Makakha Market, Mukhalakhala Market, Emahanga Market, Mudepo (Maseno Halt Depot) market, Esirulo Market, Eshibinga Market, Emanyinya Market, Mwitsukhi Market, Essaba Market, Emmatse Market, Ebukolo Market, Milimani (Echichibulu) Market, Ilungu Market and Emmaloba Market.
Four major roads serve Bunyore besides, the train line that runs from Nairobi to Butere through Luanda and Yala. The Kisumu-Busia highway runs from Kisumu to Busia. It traverses Bunyore through Maseno, Luanda and Mmailo continuing towards Ebuyangu and Yala. A second road the Ebusakami-Kima route serves travellers from Ebusakami junction to Kima Mission Hospital. The third road runs through Khusikulu, Mwilonje Esibuye, Emmang'ali Emusutswi towards Vihiga District. The smallest of the four major roads is the Luanda-Mulwakhi-Emusire- road which runs from Ebusikhale through, Es'saba, Ha-Buchichi, Mwichio and Emusire to Esirulo. Other minor seasonal roads are:
Luanda-Epanga-Khusikulu-(Wemilabi)-Emakata road. Ekwanda-Ebwiranyi-Luanda road. Kima-Emabungu road. Ebwali-Essongolo road. Emusire-Ebukanga-Ebuyangu road. Emusire-Emanyinya-Fort Jesus road. Wemilabi-Ebukhaya-Mundichiri-Emmukunzi-Ematsuli road. Luanda-Esiandumba-Akala road.
Airports near Bunyore include Kisumu Airport,located at Kisumu 45 km away, Eldoret International Airport, located at Eldoret, 153 km away, Busia Airstrip located at Busia, 60 km away and Kakamega Airstrip located at Kakamega, 60 km away.
The majority of Abanyole are Christians. In the early 1900s the African Compound and Interior Mission ACIM, having established itself in South Africa, began seeking expansion opportunities into East Africa. A missionary by the name Baker, was sent from South Africa to explore mission opportunities in East Africa. He came to Bunyore, surveyed the area and after discussions African chiefs, obtained a large parcel of land in Bunyore on which the missionaries were to set up Church. Baker returned to South Africa and another missionary Robert Wilson together with his wife were sent to begin work in the area. Their work prospered quite well but resources from the parent ministry in South Africa were not able to support it. The ACIM then considered seeking another ministry with similar religious beliefs, to take over the mission in East Africa. After consultations with The Church of God headquartered at Anderson Indiana, the mission was turned over to the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana). Since then the Church of God established itself as the major denomination amongst the people of Bunyore. Other denominations such as the Anglican Church, Catholic churches, Full Gospel Church, Dini ya Israeli, exist among the population.
1. Kenneth Marende, Speaker of the National Assembly.
2. Wilber Otichilo, MP of Emuhaya Constituency.
3. Eric Edward Khasakhala (1926–2000) former MP. of Emuhaya.
4. Ruth Khasaya Oniang'o, Professor
5. Sande Mukuna, former MP of Emuhaya.
6. Sheldon Muchilwa former MP of Emuhaya.
7. Kwendo Opang'a former Group Managing Director, East African Standard.
8. Festo Habakuk Olang' first African Archbishop of Anglican Church Kenya.
9. Byrum Makokha church elder Church of God East Africa.
10. Winifred Omwakwe, model and Miss Earth 2000 beauty queen.
11. Shem Tube of the Abana Ba Nasery, a 70's music group,
12. "Mzee Tamaa Bin Tamaa" the late "Vioja Mahakamani" comedian.
13. Reuben Kigame, gospel musician.
14. Davies Oyiela, 80's soccer player (AFC Leopards)
15. Isaiah Symekher, the late gospel composer and choir master IFC Jericho fellowship.
16. Dorisilla Andeyi Anjalo, model and MNet face of Africa finalist.
17. Melchizedek Okech, the first African headmaster at Maseno High School.
18. Gabriel Anabwani, Professor
19. Kakai Kissinger, A human rights Lawyer and activist.
20. Everlyne Banana Ofuyo "Banana of Uyo", Musician from Bunyore / Busia (Kenya)
1. http://travelingluck.com/Africa/Kenya/Western/_200056_Bunyore.html#local_map