Kakamega

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Kakamega is also the genus of the Grey-chested Illadopsis (Kakamega poliothorax), a bird

Location of Kakamega in Kenya

Kakamega is far northwest of Nairobi, toward Lake Victoria (click map to enlarge)

Kakamega is a town in western Kenya lying about 30 km north of the Equator. It is the provincial headquarters of Western Province. It is also headquarters to the Kakamega District which is one of the eight districts of Western Province. The town has a population of 73,607 (1999 census). ^[1] Kakamega is less than 100 km north of Kisumu, the third largest city in Kenya and a port city on Lake Victoria.

Kakamega area receives a very high amount of annual precipitation and contains Kakamega Forest, a preserve which is a remnant of a rainforest that stretched west through Uganda. As a rainforest, the canopy of the trees has grown into a thin mesh of interlocking top branches that block most sunlight from reaching the ground below, resulting in less vegetation at the ground level. With few bushes along the darkened forest floor, the main obstacle is ancient fallen tree trunks blocking the paths between the standing trees.

More than 400 species of birds have been found in the Kakamega rainforest. The many song birds fill the air with various birdcalls.

Kakamega is also home to Africa's largest and most aggressive cobra,the Kakamega Forest Cobra. Reputed by locals to spend a lot of time in the trees, stories abound of fearsome attacks on unsuspecting passers-by. Other snakes in the area include the forest adder, black mamba, and the green mamba.

Local Inhabitants are mostly the Luhya tribe, whose economic activity is mainly farming and fishing. Local companies include the West Kenya Sugar company.

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology is a new institution of higher learning created by an act of parliament in December 2006 is in the heart of Kakamega town on the Kakamega- Webuye road. It is expected to spur growth in this once idle capital of Western Province.