Kisii

Kisii is a term used to refer to three related things in Kenya: the Kisii people (also known as Abagusii), the Kisii language (Ekegusii), and Kisii County in the southwestern part of the country. The Kisii are a Bantu-speaking ethnic group primarily inhabiting Kisii County and nearby areas. Ekegusii is the language most commonly spoken by the Kisii, while Kiswahili and English are widely used in education, government, and media.

Kisii County is situated in the former Nyanza Province, near Lake Victoria. The county capital is Kisii town. The landscape includes highland areas and fertile farmland, supporting a predominantly agricultural economy. Common activities include cultivation of crops such as tea, coffee, bananas, and maize, as well as dairy farming and small-scale trade. The area is also known for craft production, particularly soapstone carving.

One of the region’s notable cultural features is the Tabaka soapstone carvings, produced around the Tabaka hills and sought after in local and international markets. Education and health infrastructure have grown in the county, with Kisii University located in Kisii town and various public and private institutions serving the population. Religion in Kisii County is diverse, with Christianity being the major faith alongside traditional beliefs and minority communities.

Overall, Kisii denotes an ethnic group, their language, and a Kenyan county characterized by a rural-urban mix, agricultural prominence, crafts, and evolving educational and health institutions.