About Kapsabet  Municipality

Kapsabet Municipality was established following the grant of the Municipality Charter by Nandi Governor Stephen Sang on September 24, 2018. This was after the Nandi County Assembly approved a motion for conferment of the status of Municipality on Kapsabet.

Kapsabet Municipality covers Kiminda, Kipture, Kabirirsang, Kipsigak, Kamobo, Chemundu, Chepterit and Kaptildil areas where the defunct Kapsabet Municipal Council used to cover. This covers four Wards namely; Chemundu/Kapngetuny Ward, Kapsabet Ward and parts of Kosirai and Kilibwoni Wards, which falls under Emgwen and Chesumei constituencies with an approximated area of of 206 sq kms a town in Kenya. It is the capital of Nandi County and is located 40 kilometres southwest of Eldoret on the way to Chavakali. Kapsabet is a connection town for Kisumu, Kakamega, Kericho, Eldoret and Nakuru towns.

The name Kapsabet comes from “Kap”- ‘belong to/area of and “sabit” or “sobet” – ‘live’ and has come to mean ‘a place of life though external influences and documentation refer it as Kapsabet. The locals praise it as ‘Kapsabit ak mego’. Kapsabet Municipality has a total population of 86,803 (2009 census. The majority of residents belong to the Nandi section of the Kalenjin ethnic group with predominantly a Christian town. Major churches include AIC Kapsabet, St Peters’ Catholic Parish, ACK St Barnabas, CITAM (Christ Is The Answer Ministries), SDA and a Mosque.

Economy

Kapsabet Municipality is an agricultural town. Within its environs are large tea and maize farms as well as a number of horticulture and Dairy concerns. The climate/Weather: Temperatures range from a mean annual minimum of 12°C to a mean maximum of 23°C, with rainfall amounts of between 1,200mm and 2,000mm per annum. The town has a milk depot operated by New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (New KCC) , the KTDA Chebut Tea Factory , the Chicken slaughter house and a Mabati factory in Baraton

Real estate development has seen substantial growth particularly since the advent of devolution. Evidence of demand for space in the town is seen through the entry of 8 bank branches and popular retail stores such as Naivas, Tiryo, Jubilee,Kipchimat Supermarkets, Mawa stores and  kinjal stores.

Education

The notable educational institutions in this town are Kapsabet High School, Kapsabet Girls High, School and University of Eastern Africa Baraton.

Health

Major hospitals are Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, white crescent Hospital, St Francisca Hospital, Reale Hospital,Bliss Hospital,University of eEastern Africa Baraton hospital, Chepterit mission hospiatl

Many successful long distance runners were born in or near Kapsabet including; Rodgers Rop, Bernard Lagat, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, Peter Rono, Wilfred Bungei, Pame laJelimo, Janet Jepkosgei, Martin Lel and Janet Cherobon-Bawcom. The town plays host to the start of the annual Kass Marathon which starts in Kapsabet Town and ends in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County.