THE ABAKURIA

The people now known as Abakuria are of diverse origins and clans. They are close relatives to the other Luoised groups along the southern shores of Lake Victoria who were known as Abasuba — a name which at times also included the Abakuria proper.

The Abakuria live in both Kenyan and Tanzanian territories. In Kenya they live in Kuria East nad West districts and in Tanzania they live in both north Mara and Musoma districts.
The homeland of the Abakuria is between River Migori to the east and the estuary of River Mara to the west.

On the eastern side the area stretches from Migori district in south Nyanza to Musoma district of Tanzania on the western side.

To the south the land borders the Transmara district on the Kenyan side and the Nguruimi area in Tanzania.

To the north is Lake Victoria with a small corridor occupied by the Luo and some other Bantu peoples.

The immediate neighbours of the Abakuria are the Abagusii, Maasai, Nguruimi, Zanaki, Ikoma, Luo and Suba of south Nyanza (Suba district).

Kuria is made up of two administrative districts. Kuria West district with Kehancha as the district capital and Kuria East district with Kegonga as the district capital.

Kuria West covers four administrative divisions namely Kehancha, Ikerege, Mabera and Masaba Divisions while Kuria East spans the two administrative divisions of Kegonga and Ntimaru.

However one peculiarity is that the two districts have only one local authority, Kehancha municipality and one electoral constituency, Kuria Constituency (now Kuria East & West constituencies) which is represented in parliament by Dr W.G Machage.

The 2009/2010 census results project the total population of the Kuria at 260,401 people.

MARCH 2013 GENERAL ELECTIONS

Following the General Elections held on the 4th March 2013, the Abakuria are now represented in Parliament by two MPs. Kuria East had former MP and Independence party KANU stalwart Shadrack Roger Mwita Manga make a comeback after 10 years in the political oblivion.
Kuria West got a first time, inexperienced MP in Mathias Nyamabe Robi. Robi is a former teacher and businessman.

The representation of the Kuria people did not end with the election of the two. The new constitution brought with it a devolved government and a bicameral house representation.
In the bicameral house, other than the two MPs, former Kuria MP Hon Wilfred Gisuka Machage sits in the Senate on behalf of the people of the larger Migori county.
Also in the house is Migori County Women Representative, Ms Denittah Ghati.

At the County level, Hon Mwita Mahanga deputises H.E Migori County Governor, Zacharia Obado