Located: Located in Western Kenya along the border with Uganda, and borders Busia, Kakamega and Trans Nzoia Counties

Area (Km 2): 3,032.2 Km 2

Climate/weather: Temperatures range from minimum of between 15 - 20 °C to a maximum of between 22 - 30 °C. It has two rainy seasons with average rainfall from 1200mm to 1800mm per annum.

Road Network:

Bitumen Surface   131.5 Km

Gravel Surface     359.2 Km

Earth Surface       299.1 Km

(Excludes Kimilili, Mt. Elgon and Sirisia)

Population: 1,375,063 - Male 48 %, Female 52 %

Population Density: 453.5 people per Km 2

National Percentage: 3.6 %

Growth Rate: 4.3%

Age Distribution: 0-14 years 45.9 %, 15-64 years 51 4 %, over 65 years 2.3%

Poverty Level: 53 % of population live below poverty line

Age dependency Ratio: 93.8

Resources: Natural (Mt. Elgon, Hills, Forests, Rivers Nzoia and Malakisi among others, Hot Springs), Historlcal sites - Chetambe Fort Ruins

Tourist Attractions: Mt. Elgon National Park, Mt. Elgon Forest Reserve, and the Chepkitale Forest, Nabuyole and Malakisi Falls, Sang’alo, Musikoma, and Kabuchai Hills, caves at Kitum, Mackingeny, Ngwarisha, Chepnyali, and Kiptoro

Financial Services: 13 Commercial banks, 16 Micro-Finance Institutions

Main Economic Activities/ Industries: Webuye Pan Paper Mills, Nzoia Sugar Factory, BAT Malakisi and Mastermind, commercial businesses, Sugarcane Farming, Livestock Farming

Agricultural products: Sugar, Coffee, Maize, milk, Tobacco, Bananas, Sweet Potatoes

CRA Allocation:  5,068,935,206

Number of institutions (2007): Primary (804), Secondary (207), Tertiary (40)

Primary: Total enrollment (400,407)

Teacher to Pupil Ratio: 1: 50 (Public Schools)

Secondary: Total Enrolment (41,310)

Teacher to Pupil Ratio: 1: 29 (Public Schools)

Tertiary: Masinde Muliro University, Kibabii TTC Sang’alo Institute, Kisiwa Institute, Moi University Satellite Campus

• Potential to be the leading producer of paper and tobacco

• Very populous therefore provides a large labour force

• Very deep cultural heritage with the traditional music and extensive rites of passage

• Waste management in the county is a challenge

• A collapse of several factories such as Pan Paper and tobacco factories

• Legal disputes surrounding Mumias Sugar has drastically reduced sugar cane production