Nyang'oma Kogelo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nyang'oma Kogelo
Kogelo
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 Nyang'oma Kogelo
Location in Kenya
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| Country |  Kenya |
| County | Siaya County |
| Elevation | 4,227 ft (1,288 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 3,648 |
| Website | www.kogelo.co.ke |
Nyang'oma Kogelo, also known as Kogelo, is a small village in Siaya County, Kenya. It is located very close to the equator, which is an imaginary line around the middle of the Earth. The village is about 60 kilometers (37 miles) west-northwest of Kisumu. Kisumu is a major city in Kenya. About 3,648 people live in Nyang'oma Kogelo.
This village is famous because it is the ancestral home of Barack Obama, who was the 44th President of the United States. His father, Barack Obama Sr., was born here.
Contents
Life in Nyang'oma Kogelo
Nyang'oma Kogelo is a typical village in rural Kenya. Most people here earn their living through small-scale farming. This means they grow crops and raise animals on small pieces of land.
The village has a small shopping area. You can find different shops and places to relax there. People in the village follow different religions and live together peacefully.
Schools and Health
Nyang'oma Kogelo has both a primary school and a high school. They are called Senator Obama Primary School and Senator Obama Secondary School. The land for these schools was given by Barack Obama Sr.. The schools were renamed in 2006 after his son, Barack Obama, became a United States senator. There is also a health center in the village.
Modern Changes
Before the 2008 United States presidential election, the village did not have electricity. After Barack Obama won the election, there was a lot of interest in the village. Because of this, electricity was brought to Nyang'oma Kogelo. Also, the village got its first Kenya Police post after the election.
Getting Around Kogelo
The village is located along an unpaved road called C28. This road connects Ng'iya and Ndori. Ng'iya is less than 10 kilometers north of Kogelo. It is on the main road between Kisumu and Siaya.
A few kilometers south of Nyang'oma Kogelo, there is a bridge built in 1930. This bridge crosses the Yala River, which flows into Lake Victoria. The road then reaches Ndori, which is on the road between Kisumu and Bondo. Kogelo is about 882 kilometers (548 miles) west of Mombasa by road.
Village Leadership
Nyang'oma Kogelo is part of the South East Alego area. This area is an electoral ward within Siaya County. It is also part of the Alego Constituency.
After the 2007 elections, Julius Okeyo Omedo became the local councilor. He is from the Orange Democratic Movement party. The chief of the area is James Ojwang' Obalo. His office is near the Nyang'oma Kogelo shopping center.
History of Obama's Family
Nyang'oma Kogelo is the home of the ancestors of Barack Obama. His family has lived in this village since the time when Kenya was a colony.
Why Kogelo is Famous
Since 2006, Nyang'oma Kogelo has gained international attention. This is because it is the hometown of Barack Obama Sr. (who passed away in 1982). He was the father of former United States President Barack Obama. Barack Obama Sr. is buried in the village.
Some of Obama's family members still live in Nyang'oma Kogelo. His paternal step-grandmother, Sarah Onyango Obama, lived there until she passed away in March 2021.
Because of its connection to the former American president, many tourists from the US and other countries are expected to visit the village. The Kenyan government is working to make it a popular tourist spot in western Kenya. There were plans to build an Obama-themed museum in the village in 2009. A cultural organization from Nairobi also plans to build the Dero Kogelo Library and Cultural Centre there.
Barack Obama himself visited the village in July 2018.
See also
In Spanish: Nyang’oma Kogelo para niños
