Kimilili Municipality is a fast-growing urban area situated in the Northern part of Bungoma County in Western Kenya. Its close proximity with the fertile slopes of Mt Elgon has seen the town rapidly grow into a trade and service centre. The commodities of exchange in the market are mostly agricultural.
As a service centre its strategic location has seen it become home for many of the government officials working in Kimilili Sub-County and also those working in the neighboring Sub-County of Mt. Elgon, Tongaren, Kabuchai, Webuye and Sirisia among others. Some of the working population have purchased land and constructed their own houses making them permanent residents of the town. There is an informal phrase that says whoever works in Kimilili Lives in Kimilili. This means that many of the government employees who ever worked in Kimilili ended up making it their permanent home. This is partly attributed to the peaceful coexistence among the residents that paints a picture of security which makes the town livable.
Origin
The town began in the 1920s as a service centre for the Friends Quakers Missionaries who settled in Kamusinga Area. They pitched their first church and the famous Friends School Kamusinga which is known for the academic prowess and their skills in sports like Basketball. It is one of the two national schools in the county the other one being Lugulu Girls High School. Other schools found in Kimilili Town are the Catholic sponsored Schools of St. Luke’s Boys High school Kimilili, St. Theresa’s Girls Secondary School Kimilili, Kimilili R.C Girls Primary School, and Kimilili R.C. Boys Primary School.
Other schools include Kimilili DEB Primary, Friends Girls Seconday Kimili, Kimimilili FYM Primary School Kibingei FYM Seconday School, Matili Secondary School, Bituyu Secondary School, Chebukwabi FYM Secondary School, Kaputola Secondary, St. Emmanuel’s Miruri seconday, Kibingei Primary School, Kwiroro Primary School among others
The huge population of school going children has attracted numerous private primary schools e.g. Shekinah School, Phim School, Dreamland Education Centre, Neptune Academy, Bridge Academy, Gem School, Joytec Primary School, Favour School and Royal Junior Academy among others.
Evolution
In 1991 Kimilili Town Council was established under the defunct Local Government Act, Cap 265. The jurisdiction was hived from the Bungoma County Council. It was headed by the Council Chairman. The First Council Chair Was Timona Masinde. The administrative functions were handled by the Town Clerk.
In 1997 Kimilili Town Council was elevated into a municipality. It was headed by the Municipal Mayor. The first Mayor was His Worship Hon. Gabriel Sisule. He was followed in succession by the Hon. John Kunusia and Hon. Dickson Simiyu. The administrative functions continued to be executed by The Municipal Clerk. It continued being a municipality until the enactment of the County Governments Act 2012 a product of the Kenya’s New Constitution 2010 which repealed the Local Government Act Cap 265. The Local authorities died a natural death.
Kimilili remained to be an urban center in Kimilili Sub-county until the year 2019 when an Ad-hoc committee was formed in line with the Urban Areas and Cities (Amendment Act) 2019 which advised the Governor to grant the Municipal Charter establishing the Municipality.
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