Fig. 1
Map of study area: Three Divisions of Kano Plains in Kisumu County. Source: Modified from GOK (2009). The study is Kano Plains in three divisions: lower Nyakach, Nyando and Miwani of Nyando sub-county in Kisumu County (Fig. 1). Nyando sub-county in Kisumu County falls within the Lake Victoria lowlands and floodplains region. The sub-county lies between latitude 00 00’ (the equator) and 00 25’ South, and between longitude 340 45’ East and 350 21’ East. The sub-county is surrounded by Lake Victoria and steep hills. It borders Nandi South in Nandi County to the north, Rachuonyo sub-county to the south, Kisumu East sub-county to the west and Kericho sub-county to the east (GOK, 2009). Nyando sub-county has a small shoreline to the southwest where it touches Lake Victoria. The sub-county covers an area of 1,168 km2 including 71 km2 of the lake water surface. Kano Plains lies between latitudes 1° 30’N and 0° 05’S and longitudes 34° and 35° 50’E. The lowest altitude is the same as the surface level of Lake Victoria, which is 1,134 m above sea level. A vast lowland flat area, geographically referred to as Kano plains, stretches in the middle of the sub-county while hilly terrains stretch in the northeast and the south. Kano Plains that lies in a depression is part of a large lowland area that forms the floodplain of the Nyando River. It borders the Winam Gulf: a protruding part of Lake Victoria, at the end of which is Kisumu Town