Busia, Kenya Explained

Busia is a town in Kenya. It is the capital and largest town of Busia County.^[1]

Geography

Busia, Kenya is located in Busia County, approximately 451km (280miles), by road, northwest of Nairobi, Kenya's capital and largest city.^[2] This location is immediately east of Busia, Uganda. The coordinates of Busia, Kenya are: 00°27'48.0"N, 34°06'19.0"E (Latitude:0.463333; Longitude:34.105278). Busia, Kenya sits at an average elevation of 1227m (4,026feet), above sea level.^[3]

Overview

The towns of Busia, Kenya and Busia, Uganda are border towns on Kenya's border with Uganda. The towns of Malaba, Kenya and Malaba, Uganda, approximately 29km (18miles) to the north,^[4] along with the Busia megalopolis account for the bulk of trade and human traffic between the two East African Community countries.^[5]

In July 2017, the construction of a one-stop-border-crossing between Busia, Kenya and Busia, Uganda was concluded.^[6] The construction on the Uganda side was completed in May 2016. The common upgraded border crossing was commissioned in February 2018, jointly by former president Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and president Yoweri Museveni of Uganda.^[7]

In 2021 it was reported that large quantities of Ugandan sugar were being smuggled into Kenya through Busia. Sugar in Kenya was more expensive and the failure of Kenyan sugar production industries meant that sugar could achieve an even higher price.^[8]

Population

The 2019 Kenyan census recorded Busia's population as 71,886.^[9]

Education

Local Catherine Omanyo moved the school she founded, now named "International School for Champions", here after unrest in Nairobi in 2007.^[10]

See also

• Busia District, Uganda

Notes and References

1. Web site: 24 February 2018 . Busia open border reduces cost of doing business, leaves losers sulking . 23 February 2018 . . Nairobi . Aggrey Mutambo . and Gaitano Pessa.
2. Web site: 24 February 2018 . Distance between Central Business District, Nairobi, Kenya and Busia, Kenya . Globefeed.com . Globefeed.com . 24 February 2018.
3. Web site: The Elevation of Busia, Kenya . Floodmap.net . FloodMap.net . 24 February 2018 . 24 February 2018.
4. Web site: Distance between Customs Offices, A 109, Malaba, Kenya and Busia, Kenya . 24 February 2018 . Globefeed.com . Globefeed.com . 24 February 2018.
5. Web site: Donatella . Lorch . Busia Journal; Where Uganda and Kenya Collide . 24 February 2018 . 2 April 1994 . New York City . The New York Times.
6. Web site: Malaba, Busia one-stop border posts works set to end by July . . Lilian . 28 April 2016 . 28 April 2016 . Ochieng . Nairobi . 7 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160507063035/http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Malaba--Busia-one-stop-border-posts-works-set-to-end-by-July/-/539550/3180680/-/11dv9l5/-/index.html . dead .
7. Web site: 23 February 2018 . Uhuru, Museveni to launch Busia one-stop border post . Nairobi . and Gaitano Pessa . Aggey Mutamboby . 23 February 2018 . Business Daily Africa.
8. Web site: ISSAfrica.org. 2021-11-29. Sweet deals for Kenya’s sugar smugglers. 2021-12-18. ISS Africa. en.
9. Web site: BUSIA .
10. Web site: Inspiration. 2021-12-18. International School for Champions. en-US.