Kisii Town and its Environs

Kisii is one of the six districts of Nyanza Province in SW Kenya, and is divided into five local authorities and eleven administrative districts. The district is mostly hilly and is dissected by rivers flowing west into Lake Victoria, notably the Kuja and Mogusi.

Kisii district lies on a highland equatorial climate, and as such it receives rain almost throughout the year, although there are two rainy seasons (March to May and October to November). Average rainfall is over 1500mm and is quite reliable, helping to support cash crops (coffee, tea, pyrethrum) and subsistence crops (maize, beans, millet, potatoes).

The town of Kisii is the main urban and commercial centre in Gusiiland. It has a population of about 70,000.

Historically, Kisii, as a town was founded by the British during the great War, when German gunboats on Lake Victoria forced the British to retreat from Kisumu. Kisii Hotel was built soon afterwards.

Today, it is a thriving town, home to several businesses, organizations, educational institutions and government agencies. Kisii municipality alone hosts 17 banking and financial institutions. It sits right at the centre of the Western Kenya tourist circuit that includes the Maasai Mara game reserve, Tabaka Soapstone Carvings and the entire Lake Victoria basin.

Its markets, street traders and hawkers offer tourists all sorts of souvenirs and a short trip out of town will take you to the Takaba Hills where the only soapstone quarry in Kenya is located.

Here you will be able to watch local stone carvers form wonderful ornaments, statuettes, bowls, dishes, etc. from the raw stone, using only primative tools.