Matungu

Matungu is a small town in the Western Province of Kenya. It is located in the Butere/Mumias District.

The Matungu Constituency carved our of the larger Mumias constituency in 1997. It was created following complaints by a section of residents of Mumias that they felt unrepresented due to the large size of the constituency. It was first represented in Parliament in 1998 by Joseph Wamukoya on a Kenya African National Union (KANU) ticket. In 2002 they elected David Were to represent them on a NARC ticket. Historically Matungu is the burial grounds of the Nabongo's (Kings) of the Wanga Kingdom. Today it is mainly a sugarcane growing area and many of its residents are farmers who supply the Mumias Sugar Company with its raw material.The constituency borders bumula,which falls under the larger Bungoma district.The predominant community of the luhya subtribe,the wanga and partly the Bukusu are the natives.

'CLANS The wanga are the most influential in the area of Matungu,which emerged as a famous clan during the colonial days when their king,NABONGO MUMIA collaborated with the British in pre- independence Kenya.The town in the kings homeland came to be named after him as MUMIAS.Other clans include the Bukusu,the abasitsetse,abakolwe etc.

Matungu constituency is now divided into eight wards.Each ward is headed by a concillor.This includes Koyonzo,Matungu,Kholera,Khalaba,Lunganyiro,Indangalasia etc.