Kakamega County is a county in the former Western Province of Kenya. It borders Vihiga County to the South, Siaya County to the West, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties to the North and Nandi, and Uasin Gishu counties to the East. Its capital and largest town is Kakamega. The county has a population of 1,867,579, and an area of 3,033.8 km2.
Physical and topical features Kakamega County has an altitude ranging from 1,240 metres to 2,000 metres above sea level. The southern part of the county is hilly and made of granites which raises it 1950m above sea level. The Nandi Escarpment is a key feature on the eastern border of the county with steep cliffs rising from 1700m to 2000m. The county is also endowed with a number of hills like Misango, Imanga, Eregi, Butieri, Sikhokhochole, Mawe Tatu, Lirhanda, Kiming’ini hills among others.
Climatic conditions Rainfall is almost uniformly distributed in many parts of the county throughout the year with March and July receiving highest whereas December and February the least.
The county has annual rainfall that range from 1280.1 mm to 2214.1 mm per year. The temperature range is 18 °C to 29 °C with the hottest months being are January, February, March and on the others side June, July and August being the coldest.
Demographics As per 2019 census Kakamega county had a total population of 1,867,579 people, of which 897,133 are males, 970,406 being females and 40 intersex persons. There are 433,207 households with an average size of 4.3 persons per household and a population density of 618 people per square kilometre. +Distribution of Population by Sex and Sub-CountySub-countyMaleFemaleIntersexTotalButere 73,634 80,463 3154,100Kakamega Central 92,77495,432 6188,212 Kakamega East 80,55386,784 4167,641 Kakamega North 115,511122,814 5238,330 Kakamega South 5321958,524 111,743 Khwisero 53,670 59,803 3113,476 Likuyani 73,710 78,341 4152,055 Lugari 59,135 63,593 122,728 Matete 31,749 34,423 66,172 Matungu 78,793 88,143 4166,940 Mumias East55,895 60,953 3116,851 Mumias West 54,915 60,438 1115,354 Navakholo 73,275 80,695 7153,977 Total897,133970,406401,867,579
Religion Religion in Kakamega County
Religion (2019 Census)NumberCatholicism306,477Protestant 598,611Evangelical Churches 566,271African Instituted Churches 216,915Orthodox6,837Other Christian46,594Islam88,412Hindu 578Traditionists3,002Other17,491No Religion / Atheists8,575Don't Know1,277Not Stated292
Administrative and political units
Administrative units Administration wise, the county is divided into twelve sub counties, sixty county assembly wards, eighty three locations, two hundred and fifty sub-locations, one hundred and eighty seven Village Units and four hundred Community Administrative Areas. Politically, it comprises twelve constituencies and sixty wards.
Constituencies
The county has twelve constituencies (2013): Lugari Constituency Likuyani Constituency Malava Constituency Lurambi Constituency Navakholo Constituency Mumias West Constituency Mumias East Constituency Matungu Constituency Butere Constituency Khwisero Constituency Shinyalu Constituency Ikolomani Constituency
The Mumias Constituency was divided into Mumias West and Mumias East.
Political leadership The governor is Fernandes Barasa and is deputised by Ayub Savula. He has been governor since 2022, following the end of Wycliffe Oparanya's second and final term in office. Boni Khalwale is the senator and joined office in 2022 after defeating Brian Lishenga. Elsie Busihile Muhanda is the women representative and joined the office in 2017 after defeating Rachel Amamo who was the first elected women representative 2013–2017.
For Kakamega County, the County Executive Committee comprises:- + County Executive CommitteeNumberThe Governor1The Deputy Governor1The County Secretary1The CEC Members 10Total13 Source
Education There are 1631 ECD centres 1136 primary schools and 408 secondary schools. The county has also 4 teachers training colleges, 51 Youth Polytechnics, 3 technical training institutes, 6 university campuses and 1 university as of 2014. +Education Institutions in Kakamega County 2014CategoryPublicPrivateTotalEnrolmentECD Centres8768551631105,426Primary schools8832531136557,107 Secondary schools408408116,732 Youth Polytechnics47451Technical Training Institutes302381University Campuses51610,657 Universities101Adult Education Centres195019516,542 Source
Health
Kakamega has one county referral hospital (Kakamega County General Teaching & Referral Hospital), 12 sub-county hospitals, 47 health centres, 123 dispensaries and 44 clinics. Both private and public health facilities hold a total bed capacity of 3,949 with public sector having 2,338 beds and private hospitals 197 beds and mission/NGO is 1,414 beds capacity.
HIV prevalence in Kakamega County is 4.0% lower than the national one that is at 5.9%. +Health Facilities by OwnershipGovernment*FBOPrivateNGOTOTALHospitals1240016Health centres389009Dispensaries9510180123Clinics0143043
FBO – Faith Based Organizations
Trade and commerce The county is part of the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) established in 2018 to foster regional economic, industrial, social, and technological collaboration.
There are 62 trading centres, 11,083 retail traders, 21 supermarkets, 203 wholesale traders and 1180 registered hotels.
Agriculture Agriculture is the backbone of the county, contributing to 65% of the county's GDP.
There are two main categories of crops: food crops and cash crops, the rest being horticulture. Food crops include maize, sorghum, finger millet, rice, beans, peas, grams, cassava, potatoes, and arrowroots. Maize is grown all over the county and forms the county's staple food. Sugarcane is partly a popular food crop but also one of the most grown cash crops. There has been however a reduced sugarcane farming attributed to collapse of Mumias Sugar and the recent financial woes facing sugarcane millers which have discouraged its growing.
Transport and communication The county is covered by 4,451.3 km of road network. of this 1,308.90 km is covered by earth surface, 2,792.25 is covered by gravel, 939.32 km is murram surface and 307.5 km is covered by bitumen.
There are 14 Post Offices with 8,400 installed letter boxes, 6,969 rented letter boxes and 1,431 vacant letter boxes.
Sports Kakamega is known for its prowess in sporting activities, especially rugby and football. Highschool football teams such as Musingu High School, Kakamega High school, Shanderema High, Archbishop Njenga Girls have dominated in national high school games and East African competitions. Rugby teams from Koyonzo High School, St. Peter's Mumias, Kakamega High School have been among the best in the country. Both have been making headlines in highschool competitions, competing up to the East African regional levels consecutively. Rugby teams like Kabras RFC, Masinde Muliro Rugby teams being some of the big names in Kenyan local rugby. They are based in Kakamega. The county has also produced sportsmen who have represented Kenya's national teams in their respective fields. Notable among them include Edith Wisa, Dorcas Sikobe, Victor Wanyama, Clifton Miheso, having been born there or some of whom trace their roots to Kakamega.
Services and urbanisation Source: USAid Kenya
Villages and settlements Butsotso Emasatsi Ivakale Kilingili Kiming'ini Masati Mureko Nanyeni Eregi
See also
Mwale Medical and Technology City
References