Vihiga County

What Vihiga County does

Vihiga County is a devolved county government entity in Western Kenya, constitutionally established in 2013 under Kenya's 2010 Constitution, serving a population of approximately 590,013 residents distributed across 5 constituencies (Luanda, Emuhaya, Hamisi, Sabatia, Vihiga) and 25 wards, with headquarters in Mbale town. It delivers public services through 13+ line departments including Health Services, Agriculture/Livestock/Fisheries, Education/Vocational Training, Environment/Water/Climate Change, Transport/Infrastructure, Finance/Economic Planning, and Gender/Youth/Social Services, operating assets such as the Vihiga County Teaching and Referral Hospital, sub-county hospitals, 10 vocational training centres, and an ESP Market programme.

Its core products are citizen-facing public services rather than commercial offerings: healthcare (CT scan, 5-machine dialysis unit, maternal and child health, community health promoters), education (Governor's Scholarship Programme, 10 vocational training centres), agriculture (NAVCDP, NORAD-ARNSA aquaculture covering 450 fish farmers, Mwitoko Fish Hatchery), water and sanitation (K-WASH, boreholes, solar-powered systems), and climate action (Maragoli Hills reforestation, Climate Change Act 2025). Underlying digital infrastructure consists of an E-Services revenue portal (vihiga.revenue.co.ke) and ICT Digital Villages, with no AI/ML capability evidenced.

The business model is government-funded: revenue is derived from national government equitable share allocations, locally generated taxes/fees, and a dense network of development partner grants (NORAD, GIZ, World Bank, UNICEF, FAO, IFAD, Safaricom Foundation). The county under Governor Dr. Wilber Khasilwa Ottichilo is actively mobilizing donor co-funding, evidenced by KES 69M from NORAD and Kshs 60M from Safaricom Foundation in 2025 alone, alongside GIZ governance support and World Bank K-WASH program participation.

Name

Vihiga County

Legal name

County Government of Vihiga

Website

https://vihiga.go.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vihiga County is a constitutionally-established devolved county government in Western Kenya, headquartered in Mbale, delivering public healthcare, education, agriculture, water, and infrastructure services to 590,013 residents across 5 constituencies and 25 wards, funded by national allocations and development partner grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

County Government Services / Public Administration

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Administration of Economic Programs (9261)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK), County/District/Local Health Departments (HLAJAAAB), District Administration & Central Office (EDAJAAAA), District Finance, Budgeting & Procurement Offices (EDADABAG)

Keywords

• County government services
• Public health services
• Agricultural extension services
• Vocational training services
• Water infrastructure development

Headquarters

HQ city

Maragoli

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Vihiga County Government is a devolved county government entity established in 2013 under Kenya's 2010 Constitution, providing public administration and integrated service delivery to approximately 590,013 residents across 5 constituencies and 25 wards in Western Kenya. The county delivers essential public services through 13+ departments covering healthcare, agricultural extension, vocational education, water and sanitation infrastructure, road and transport infrastructure, environmental conservation, and digital government services. Funding is sourced from national government allocations, locally generated revenue, and development partner grants.

Product overview

Vihiga County Government operates as a county government entity providing public services to residents rather than a commercial product company. Its service portfolio includes digital services (ICT Digital Villages, E-Services Portal), agricultural services (NAVCDP, NORAD-ARNSA aquaculture projects, Mwitoko Fish Hatchery), healthcare services (CT scan, dialysis, maternal health center), educational services (Governor's Scholarship Programme, 10 Vocational Training Centres), infrastructure services (water projects, roads, ESP Markets), and climate action initiatives. These services are delivered through various county departments and are supported by partnerships with national government agencies, international development organizations (NORAD, GIZ, UNICEF), and private sector partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Healthcare Services Integrated county health services including Vihiga County Referral Hospital (with CT scan, 5 dialysis machines, Model Maternal and Child Health Centre), sub-county hospitals, health centres, community health programs, and UHC initiatives serving Vihiga County residents.
• Vocational Training Services Technical and vocational training delivered through 10 Vocational Training Centres (Ebusiralo, Gamande, Kaimosi, Kitulu, Lotego, Maseno, Mudete Friends, Muhudu, Mwambeba, Boyani) for youth across the county.
• Agricultural Extension Services Agricultural extension services supporting farming, livestock breeding, aquaculture projects, and agricultural value chain development including NAVCDP, NORAD-ARNSA aquaculture project, Mwitoko Fish Hatchery and Training Centre, and farmer training programs.
• Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Services Development and rehabilitation of water supplies including boreholes, spring protection, distribution networks, and solar-powered water systems across Vihiga County.
• E-Services Portal Online portal for citizens to access government services and make payments digitally through the county revenue platform.
• ICT Digital Villages Internet services at small centres enabling communication with the government and access to digital services, particularly for paying for services.
• Transport and Infrastructure Services Road network development, bridge construction, street lighting including solar-powered systems, and transport infrastructure projects across the county.
• Governor's Scholarship Programme County-funded scholarship programme supporting secondary school students with mentorship, achieving 92.8% university entry rate for the 2024 KCSE cohort.
• ESP Markets (Economic Stimulus Programme) Construction of ultra-modern smart markets under the Economic Stimulus Programme, including the Esirulo market with 204 stalls for trade and commerce activities.
• Climate Change Services Services related to climate action, reforestation, environmental protection, and climate resilience projects including Maragoli Hills forest conservation, governed by the Vihiga County Climate Change Act 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92.8% university entry rate for Governor's Scholarship beneficiaries (2024 KCSE)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UNICEF KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026UNICEF Kenya partnered with Vihiga County and Ministry of Health on strengthening referral networks and community-based care for childhood-onset Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The program assesses current referral systems and develops implementation plans for childhood-onset NCDs including Type 1 Diabetes.
• NCD Alliance KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 January 2026Partnership focused on assessing and strengthening referral networks and community-based care for childhood-onset Non-Communicable Diseases. NCD Alliance Kenya donated a Gazelle sickle cell confirmatory test machine for Hamisi Sub County Hospital.
• Natural Products Industry (NPI) / National Museums of KenyaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 January 2026Vihiga County will pitch its cultural Indigenous Knowledge assets at the first cultural investment conference organized by NPI under National Museums of Kenya. Items include Vukhulu Tiriki Dance, preserved vegetables, basketry, and traditional medicine.
• Canadian Nurses for AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025Canadian Nurses for Africa donated four motorcycle ambulances to Vihiga County to support primary health service provision, particularly in remote areas for maternal and newborn healthcare through Community Health Promoters.
• The Source PlusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2025The Source Plus organization is working with Vihiga County to revamp Apiculture through on-boarding farmers, providing bee hives, training, capacity building, and market access for increased honey production.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2025FAO Global Field Schools Support Programme partnered with NAVCDP for a 21-day training program on Farmer Field Business School (FFBS) for Community Based Facilitators. The training covered agroecosystem analysis, participatory technology development, and market assessment.
• Council of Governors-KenyaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2025Council of Governors-Kenya in conjunction with Maarifa Centre is developing a compendium documenting Climate Resilient Practices in Fisheries and Aquaculture in 13 Counties, with Vihiga being top among them. A team visited Vihiga to document key projects.
• GIZcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2025GIZ supports Vihiga through the Strengthening Good Governance Programme focusing on Public Finance Management, Anti-Corruption interventions, Access to information, and Public Complaints Management. Also supports youth sensitization workshops for agri-entrepreneurs through BAYE Africa partnership.
• Women Farmers Association of Kenya (WoFaAk)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2025WoFaAk, a national umbrella organization of women farmers, met with Governor to discuss potential collaborative activities with Department of Agriculture, Gender, Youth, and Trade departments to address issues impeding women farmers.
• Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2025KALRO Kakamega branch is working with Vihiga County on drafting an MOU for collaborative partnership to enhance agricultural production through Smart Agriculture techniques and agribusiness initiatives. Focus areas include local feed formulation, seed multiplication, and research and development.
• ZURI HealthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 March 2025ZURI Health partnered with Vihiga County and Safaricom M-Pesa Foundation for a free medical camp at Gisambai Primary School. The partnership includes a Continuous Care Program linking patients to specialists through the ZURI Health App.
• Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 March 2025KISE partnered with Vihiga County and Safaricom M-Pesa Foundation for the free medical camp providing specialized education services and assessments.
• International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2025ICRAF partnered with Vihiga County Department of Agriculture on a three-day workshop for farmers from Vihiga, Kisumu, and Nandi Counties on developing strategies for Organic Resources (bio-input) program promoting sustainable agroecological farming techniques.
• Agri Jobs 4 Youth and AgriBoraminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2025Partnership with Agri Jobs 4 Youth and AgriBora to conduct farmer training on AgroEcology Farming practices through Farmer Service Centres and Ward Agricultural Officers to enhance production and advisory services.
• Business Acceleration for Young Entrepreneurs in Africa (BAYE Africa)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2025BAYE Africa and GIZ partnered with Vihiga County for an 8-month mentorship program for 15 agri-entrepreneurs selected from every Sub-county. The program focuses on business growth, financial performance, and skills transfer.
• The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA) and Welthungerhilfe (WHH)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2025TISA and WHH are implementing Phase 2 of the 'Strengthening Rural Governance for the Right to Adequate Food' project. Phase 1 empowered over 23,700 residents on food rights and entitlements.
• Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium (Keprecon)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2025Keprecon supports Vihiga County in Championing Evidence-Based Advocacy in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH), Nutrition and Primary Health Care delivery.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bungoma County Government: Western Kenya county with overlapping agricultural, education, and health service mandates and a comparable donor-partnership model.
• Kakamega County Government: Neighbouring devolved county in Western Kenya with a similar service portfolio (agriculture, health, education, water) and population scale, making it the most direct structural peer to Vihiga.
• Kisumu County Government: Adjacent county sharing a border with Vihiga, operating comparable devolved functions including aquaculture and referral hospital services, with similar development partner engagement.
• Siaya County Government: Neighbouring county bordering Vihiga to the west, with a similar devolved governance structure and comparable focus on agriculture, health, and water service delivery.
• Nandi County Government: Eastern neighbour of Vihiga with overlapping agricultural and rural development focus, and participation in joint programs such as the ICRAF organic resources workshop.

Regional players

• Uasin Gishu County Government: Western Kenya county with a larger economic base and similar devolved service responsibilities, providing a comparison point for scale and capacity.
• Trans Nzoia County Government: Western Kenya county with comparable agricultural and education priorities, useful as a regional benchmark for devolved service delivery.

Others

• Council of Governors (Kenya): Inter-governmental body coordinating the 47 Kenyan counties; Vihiga actively engages with it for fisheries and aquaculture documentation, making it a relevant ecosystem-level peer.

Broad incumbents

• Nairobi City County Government: Kenya's largest and most digitally advanced county government, useful as a benchmark for e-government and own-source revenue maturity against Vihiga's emerging digital portal.
• Mombasa County Government: Larger, more urbanized Kenyan county government offering a reference point for how a devolved entity scales digital services, healthcare, and revenue administration at greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vihigacountygov
• Xx.com/VihigaCountyGov
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vihiga-county

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vihiga County