VIHIGA COUNTY SHOWCASES GEOSPATIAL ADVANCES ON WORLD GIS DAY

Vihiga County today joined the rest of the world in marking the World Geograhic Information Systems (GIS) Day, celebrated under the theme “Geo-Generalist Era: Where Spatial Meets Everything.” The event highlighted the County’s growing investment in spatial intelligence as a driver of effective governance, evidence-based planning, and improved service delivery.

A key highlight of the day was the County’s ongoing GIS transformation, championed by Governor Dr. Wilber Khasilwa Ottichilo.

Speaking during the celebration, the Deputy Governor H.E. Wilberforce Kitiezo – Deputy Governor Vihiga County noted that GIS has been instrumental in enhancing public service delivery across departments. He further stated that Vihiga County has made significant progress in mapping public facilities, developing digital base maps, and expanding its spatial datasets through the Directorate of Geospatial Technologies Services (GTS).

“The County’s GIS efforts have already begun yielding tangible benefits. For example, spatial analysis of road networks has helped identify high-need areas for maintenance and new construction. Mapping of health facilities has supported the planning of outreach services and optimized ambulance deployment. In agriculture, GIS-based soil and crop analysis is helping farmers and extension officers make better production decisions. Similarly, environmental mapping has improved monitoring of wetlands, forests, and rivers, contributing to more sustainable natural resource management,” said Deputy Governor Kitiezo.

To date, the modern Geospatial Technologies Services and GIS Lab has become a national reference point, with 40 counties visiting Vihiga to benchmark its systems.

As the County continues to expand the use of geospatial tools, today’s commemoration highlighted the central role of GIS in shaping efficient, transparent, and sustainable public service delivery.