Butere Town Guide
Butere town is located in the Western Province of Kenya in Kakamega County. The town is the capital of Butere District formerly Butere/ Mumias District.
Economic Activities in Butere Town
The recidents of Butere Town mainstay economic activity is subsistence maize production though the division is an important supplier of raw sugar cane to Mumias sugar company. Residents of this division are also small scale cattle and bee keepers as well as fish keepers.
The people of Butere have traditionally been small scale farmers planting soghum, millet and vegetables which they traded with their neighbours from south Nyanza with fish from Lake Victoria.
The introduction of maize saw a change of stable food from ugali made from soghum to maize meal.
Boda Boda
Following the increase in unemployment in the sub-county, many youths have engaged in motorbike business (commonly known as boda boda). This business earns them an average of $500 a day.
Education Institutions in Butere Town
The district has two Provincial secondary schools:- Butere Girls’ High School and Butere Boys’ High School. The district also has numerous day secondary schools with Lunza Secondary School being the largest in terms of student population and perenial good performance.
The introduction of Constituency Development Fund saw Buchenya Girls’ School being chosen as a centre of academic excellence due to its central location.
There are several primary schools in the district with Butere Primary School and Buchenya Primary being more famous.
Transportation in Butere Town
Butere is linked by road to Mumias (in north) and Kisumu (SE). A branch railway line from Kisumu ends at Butere. Passenger service on the branch line was resumed in January 2007 after lengthy suspension.
The name Butere comes from one of the main clans in the division the aBatere subclan who reside in areas such as Muyundi, Masaba and around the township.
Inhabitants of Butere Town
Butere Town is inhabited predominantly by the Marama Sub-tribe of the larger Luhya tribe with a significant element of Luo immigrants from the neighbouring Siaya District. The Marama’s most popular dance is the lipala dance and eshiremba (a funeral ceremony dance performed by abashibanga clan) which seems to be vanishing with modernity.
Prominent Personalities in Butere
Former Kenyan vice president Moody Awori was born in Butere. Other notable figures who hail from Butere include politician Martin Shikuku, Prof. George Eshiwani, Prof. Oniang’o, Communications expert and video producer Abwao Peter, musician Sukuma bin Ongaro, Prof Ruth Oniango, former nominated MP, Arch. Mohammed Munyanya former chairman Architectural Association of Kenya and Mr linani Omucheni who is a senior technologist at the university of Nairobi.
Also from Butere are Mutakha Kangu, a Lawyer and lecturer, Moi University, Achero Mzalendo Mufuayia, a young lawyer and David Bwakali, a writer and environmentalist.
Politics in Butere Town
The politics of Butere have been dominated by clan rivalries. Martin Shikuku the area MP since independence represented the constituency with short breaks until he was ousted by the late Jesse Eshikhati Opembe in 1988 who served briefly until his passing. Then former University of Nairobi Lecturer, Dr. Amukowa Anangwe in the 1997 general elections. Anangwe was however in 2002 ousted by flamboyant Wycliffe Oparanya whose popularity was boosted by his youth soccer programme in the division.
Religion in Butere Town
The division is predominantly Anglican though other denominations claim a significant percentage of followers.
Butere Health Facilities
Apostles Clinic
MFL Code: 15803
Facility Type: Dispensary
Owner: Christian Health Association of Kenya
Butere District Hospital
MFL Code: 15836
Facility Type: District Hospital
Owner: Ministry of Health
Manyala Sub-District Hospital
MFL Code: 15999
Facility Type: Sub-District Hospital
Owner: Ministry of Health
Shikunga Health Centre
MFL Code: 16111
Facility Type: Health Centre
Owner: Ministry of Health
Eshimukoko Health Centre
MFL Code: 16114
Facility Type: Health Centre
Owner: Ministry of Health
Shiraha Health Centre
MFL Code: 16116
Facility Type: Health Centre
Owner: Ministry of Health
Shisaba Dispensary
MFL Code: 16118
Facility Type: Dispensary
Owner: Ministry of Health
Shitsitswi Health Centre
MFL Code: 16121
Facility Type: Health Centre
Owner: Ministry of Health
Masaba Dispensary
MFL Code: 16715
Facility Type: Dispensary
Owner: Other Faith Based
Mabole Health Centre
MFL Code: 17297
Facility Type: Health Centre
Owner: Ministry of Health
Lukoye Health Centre
MFL Code: 17298
Facility Type: Health Centre
Owner: Ministry of Health
Kadvan Medical Clinic
MFL Code: 17848
Facility Type: Medical Clinic
Owner: Private Practice – Nurse / Midwife
Vision Medical Clinic Butere
MFL Code: 17849
Facility Type: Medical Clinic
Owner: Private Practice – Clinical Officer
Bukura Medical Clinic
MFL Code: 17850
Facility Type: Medical Clinic
Owner: Private Practice – Clinical Officer
Pona Medical Clinic
MFL Code: 17851
Facility Type: Medical Clinic
Owner: Private Practice – Nurse / Midwife
Maloba Health Clinic
MFL Code: 17853
Facility Type: Medical Clinic
Owner: Private Practice – Nurse / Midwife
Shibanga Medical Clinic
MFL Code: 18759
Facility Type: Medical Clinic
Owner: Private Practice – Nurse / Midwife
Butere Iranda Health Centre
MFL Code: 18939
Facility Type: Health Centre
Owner: Ministry of Health
Eshibimbi Health Centre
MFL Code: 18940
Facility Type: Health Centre
Owner: Ministry of Health
Imanga Health Centre
MFL Code: 18941
Facility Type: Health Centre
Owner: Ministry of Health
Ebenezer Health Care Dispensary
MFL Code: 20179
Facility Type: Dispensary
Owner: Private Practice – Nurse / Midwife
ST.James Memorial Medical Clinic
MFL Code: 20468
Facility Type: Medical Clinic
Owner: Private Practice – General Practitioner
Hotels near Butere Town
- Acacia Premier Hotel
- The Homestay Cottage
- Kisumu Hostel
- Vittoria Suites
- Sovereign Hotel
- Imperial Express
- Distinction Gardens
- Jamindas Paradise Motel
Butere Town- Photos
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