WELCOME TO HAMISI SUB COUNTY.

Hamisi Sub County is located within Vihiga County of the former Western Province in the Republic of Kenya. The name “Hamisi” is derived from the first shopkeeper Mr. Hamisi who settled there for many years and did business at the place. From Mr., Hamisi’s shop, the place gradually grew into a trading centre and it assumed Hamisi’s name because he was the pioneer businessman at the place

Hamisi is inhabited by the Tiriki community sub tribe of the larger Luhyia community. The population of the area is estimated to be 148,259 according to the 2009 census.

Originally, Hamisi Constituency was part of the larger Vihiga District. In the spirit of “bringing government services closer to the people”, the then President of the Republic of Kenya H.E Mwai Kibaki created Hamisi district in the year 2007. The current Member of Parliament for Hamisi is Charles Gumini Gimose.

Hamisi Sub County hosts headquarters of four main Christian Churches namely; the Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) at Nyang’ori, Friends’ Church (Quakers) at Kaimosi, the African Divine Church at Boyani and Africa Israel Nineveh Church at Jebrok. The prevalence of religious activities has not reduced undesirable delinquencies in this region. Literacy rates are above Kenyan Rural average; but a serious lack of educational tools to push this resource to the next level is the main challenge.

Hamisi is also an educational hub having some of the best performing schools. These schools include: Kaimosi boys and girls, St Paul’s Erusui Girls and Senende boys High School. There are also has higher level educational institutions which include Kaimosi Teachers college and the new Kaimosi Friends University College (KAFUCO) which is a constituent of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology located in Kakamega.

Hamisi Sub County is majorly inhabited by the Tiriki sub tribe .The Tiriki community has a rich culture that makes it stand out .They practice different cultural activities the conspicuous one being circumcision. They believe that the only way to transit from childhood to adulthood is through traditional circumcision. During the circumcision period, young boys who pass through the rite assemble in the forest for close to one month being taught different community values.

The area also has touristic attraction sites some of which include the Evergreen Kaimosi forest. Kaimosi forest is synonymous with small monkey species that is believed to be one of a kind in the world. Kaimosi forest is believed to be an extension of the Congo forest though some scholars have challenged the notion claiming that the Congo forest is the one that extends from Kaimosi. The “Hill of Vision” or Javujiluachi in local dialect, Tiriki is another touristic zone in Hamisi. The site is a shrine where it is believed that once people pay pilgrimage, they receive life transforming visions from the place. According to the locals, “The Hill of Vision” is a place of transformation where people “communicate” with God and get visions from above.

Hamisi Sub County’s major economic activity is tea farming. Most residents have also ventured into self employment and constructively contribute to the national economy.

By Ingara Derrick