Bomet County Government, located county in the former Rift Valley Province of Kenya, was created from the former Kericho district through Kenya gazette supplement no. 53 of 1992. It has a population of 875,689 in 2019 and an area of 1,630.0 km2
Bomet is the capital and largest town of Bomet County, Kenya. Bomet town has a total population of 110,963 (2009 census]). It is located along the B3 Mai Mahiu-Narok-Kisii road.]Bomet city is one of the eight sister cities to Milwaukee.
Local authorities]
| Authority | Type | Population* | Urban pop.* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bomet | Municipality | 42,024 | 4,426 |
| Bomet County | County | 340,770 | 244 |
| Total | – | 382,794 | 4,670 |
| * 1999 census. Source:[2] |
Administrative and political units]
Bomet county has five sub-county administrative units with 25 county assembly wards and 66 locations.
| Sub-County (Constituency) | Wards | Area In km sq. | No. of locations | No. of Sub-locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bomet Central | Silibwet, Singorwet, Ndarawetta, Chesoen & Mutarakwa | 266 | 8 | 23 |
| Bomet East | Longisa, Kembu, Chemaner, Merigi & Kipreres | 311.3 | 10 | 27 |
| Chepalungu | Sigor, Kongasis, Chebunyo, Nyongores & Siongiroi | 535.8 | 15 | 42 |
| Sotik | Ndanai/Abosi, Kipsonoi, Kapletundo, Chemagel & Manaret/Rongena | 479.2 | 17 | 36 |
| Konoin | Kimulot, Mogogosiek, Boito, Embomos & Chepchabas | 445.1 | 16 | 37 |
| Total | 2037 | 66 | 176 |
County government
Bomet has had three governors since devolution, Isaac Ruto was the first Governor and was replaced by Joyce Laboso who died died of cancer while at office.[4] Dr. Hillary Barchok, being the deputy, was sworn in as the third governor on August 8 2019 after demise of the Joyce Laboso. Joyce Chepkoech Korir is the current women representative and Sen. (Dr.) Langat Christopher Andrew being the Senator. The county ward assemblies are run by members of county assemblies.
Electoral constituencies
The county has five electoral constituencies:
- Bomet Central Constituency
- Bomet East Constituency
- Chepalungu Constituency
- Sotik Constituency
- Konoin Constituency
Demographics
Bomet has a population of 875,689 person with a population density of 346 persons per square km as per the 2019 census report, out of this 434,287 are females, 441,379 males and 23 intersex persons.
Services/Urbanisation
| County | Stats for the County (Percent) |
|---|---|
| Urbanisation | 13.8 |
| Literacy | 63.8 |
| Attending School (15-18 Yrs) | 88.6 |
| Paved Roads | 5.4 |
| Good Roads | 39.6 |
| Electricity Access | 4.3 |
| Poverty Rate | 46.5 |
| Stats for the County |
Source: USAid Kenya
Secondary schools
- Tenwek Boys High
- Longisa Boys High School
- Moi Siongiroi Girls High School
- Kabungut Boys High
- Ndaraweta Girls secondary School
- Kaboson Girls School
- Chepalungu Boys High School
- Chebunyo Boys Secondary School
- Chebunyo Girls Secondary School
- Siwot Secondary School
- Kiptobit Secondary School
- Kaplong boys high school
- kimuchul secondary school
- Kaplong Girls Secondary school
- Moi Minariet Boys Secondary School
- Muiywek Secondary School
- Gorgor Secondary School
- Chebilat Boys’ High School
- Kamung’ei Secondary School
- Kamureito Secondary School
- Ndanai Girls’ HighSchool
- Solyot Secondary School
- Olbutyo Boys High School
- Olbobo Secondary School
- Mulot High school
- Kakimirai High school
- Lelkatet High School
- Saseta Girls Secondary School
- Simoti Secondary School
- merigi secondary school
- kaporuso secondary school
- Sigowet Secondary School
- Chemaner Secondary School
Bomet is a borrowed word (possibly from Swahili) in Kipsigis dialect meaning a traditional fenced parameter for cattle to spend the night in. The Kipsigis word ‘Kaaptich‘ is the correct term for such a structure though. The eponymous term was coined following establishment of an industrial scale butchery which used to observe large herds of cattle rounded together in a large scale cow parameter.
History
Bomet used to be known as Soot or So`t (not to be confused with Sotik) but was eventually renamed Bomet to in part break the confusion between Bomet town and Sotik town.
Administration
Bomet municipality has six wards (Cheboin, Emkwen, Itembe, Mutarakwa, Township and Tuluapmosonik). These wards are split between Bomet, Chepalungu, Konoin and Sotik constituencies.
Economic Activities
The main economic activity in Bomet is agriculture. Tea is mostly grown in the eastern region of the district bordering the Mau forest. Farmers in the tea-producing region sell their produce to KTDA (Kenya Tea Development Agency) factories such as those at Kapset, Mogogosiek, Rororok, Kapkoros and Tirgaga located in Bomet county. There are also other multinational tea companies such as George Williamson, Unilever and James Finlay (Kenya) Limited which have tea factories in the county.
Medical Facilities
Tenwek Hospital is a 300-bed hospital and training center located in Bomet. In addition to being the area’s primary hospital, Tenwek serves as a referral hospital.
