Migori is a town in Nyanza Province of Kenya. Migori is capital of the Migori District. The town is located 63 km south of Kisii and 22 km north of the Tanzanian border. The town has an urban population of 31,644 and total population of 46,576 (1999 census [1]).
Migori is connected by road to the Masai Mara national park, but the road is in poor condition. Migori town is immediately after Awendo, (where the Sony Sugar Company is situated), Oyani, Stella and Kakrao areas.The road to Isebania is well tarmacked from Kakrao to Mwanza in Tanzania.
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The altitude is roughly 1500 meters at Kakrao descending by 100 metres into the Migori river. The different peaks near the town are a little over 1550 metres above sea level.
Rainfall is in two seasons like the most of Kenya and the highest rainfall is between March and May. Average rainfall is approximately 1200mm and above but the rainfall patterns are unique, as the small town has three rainfall patterns. It could rain in Kakrao but around Onyalo school would be very dry and Namba would have a slight drizzle.
The soils are well drained and tending to loamy. This favors the cultivation of tobacco, sugarcane, maize, beans, coffee, groundnuts and vegetables.
The town is home to the Luo, but recent migration has introduced a significant number of Maragolis. It is not surprising thus, that many villagers around the town speak Maragoli and Luo. There are also significant numbers of Kisiis, Kikuyus(Though the unfortunate skirmishes of 2007 left many of the Kikuyus traumatised). The language of business is Kiswahili which shows the big difference with other Luo dominated towns.
The Church and Mosque life is very vibrant and at times very loud but this is expected to change with the new Noise laws introduced by Nema.
There has been gold mining activities in the area. Mining was centered in Macalader area of Migori on the way to Muhuru bay.
Most activity is centered on the main highway that crosses the town. Most activity is Small and Micro enterprises largely the Jua Kali with a concentration in auto mechanics, furniture works,tailoring, welding, trade and agriculture. Agricultural produce comes from surrounding areas like Ngege, oyani,anjego etc. Other profit making organisations include Barclays, KCB,K-rep ,family finance ,Co-op and post banks.
There is a National cereals board depot.
Some common trees include Bondo (Euphorbia candelabrum),Ochwoga (Carissa edulis),Mukinduri (Croton megalocarpus), Ngow (Ficus nataliensis), Onera (Terminalia brownii), Toona does well in the area but most trees are multi-branched which may indicate bud borer trouble. Terminalia catappa, Cypress(lusitanica variant) does well in the area and some pine has been grown successfully.
The birdlife here is varied with many records of blue flycatcher, blue spotted wood dove, harrier hawk, bat hawk,baglafecht weaver, tawny eagle, purple grenadier,beautiful sunbird,yellow billed stork,hadada ibis, african citril,cape turtle dove,paradise flycatcher,yellow white eye,white browed robin chat,black headed gonolek,Black kite etc
Nyabisawa Girls school
Migori Boys
Kadika Girls
Onyalo Mixed
Migori Teachers College
Oruba Mixed Secondary
Pentagon Academy