About the Department
Background
The Department of Tourism, Culture, Sports & Arts develops the county’s soft economy — the Lake Victoria shoreline, cultural heritage, sporting talent and creative industries that define local identity and attract visitors.
Its work generates jobs for young people, income for communities around attractions, and pride in the county’s shared heritage.
Legal Mandate
The department derives its mandate from:
- The Constitution of Kenya, 2010 (Fourth Schedule, Part 2)
- The Tourism Act, 2011
- The National Museums and Heritage Act, 2006
- The Sports Act, 2013
- The County Governments Act, 2012
Constitutional Functions
- County tourism promotion and destination marketing
- Cultural activities, public entertainment and amenities
- County parks, beaches and recreation facilities
- Sports and sports facilities development
- Betting, casinos and other forms of gambling control
- Support to arts, music and the creative economy
Core Responsibilities
- Developing and marketing county tourism circuits and products
- Conserving cultural sites, artefacts and indigenous knowledge
- Constructing and maintaining stadia and playgrounds
- Organising county leagues, tournaments and talent search
- Licensing entertainment venues and outdoor events
- Supporting artists, musicians and creative enterprises
A leading destination county where heritage, talent and creativity thrive
Purpose
To promote tourism, preserve culture, nurture sporting talent and grow the creative economy for jobs, income and county pride.
Core Values
Integrity
Honest, ethical conduct in every transaction and decision.
Accountability
Responsible use of public resources with clear reporting.
Professionalism
Technical excellence and respect in service delivery.
Innovation
Embracing new methods, data and technology.
Teamwork
Collaboration across directorates and with partners.
Inclusivity
Services accessible to all, including youth, women and PWDs.
Transparency
Open processes, published data and clear communication.
Sustainability
Protecting resources for future generations.
Departmental Leadership
Meet the executive and technical leadership steering the department’s mandate.
Dr. Ochogo Nicholas Kut
Professional Profile
Dr. Nicholas Kut Ochogo is an experienced education and public sector professional with a strong background in education, public administration, governance, and social development.
Key Responsibilities
- Tourism, culture and sports policy oversight
- Representation in the County Executive Committee
- Accounting Officer for the departmental budget
- Investor and federation engagement
Wilfred Nyagudi
Professional Profile
Key Responsibilities
- Tourism product and circuit development
- Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIE) holder
- Cultural heritage conservation
- Events and festival coordination
Directorates & Units
Select a directorate to view its mandate, objectives, functions and team.
Tourism & Culture
Mandate
To promote, develop and manage tourism and cultural resources within the county, while preserving cultural heritage, supporting local creative industries and positioning the county as an attractive tourism and cultural destination.
Objectives
- To promote sustainable tourism and preserve cultural heritage while creating employment, supporting local enterprises, attracting investment and enhancing the county's cultural identity.
Functions
- Develop and implement county tourism and cultural development policies, strategies and programmes.
- Identify, document and promote tourism attractions and destinations within the county.
- Develop and promote cultural tourism and heritage sites.
- Preserve, protect and promote local cultural heritage, traditions, arts and historical resources.
- Promote community-based and sustainable tourism initiatives.
- Develop tourism products, experiences, trails and cultural events.
- Market and brand the county as a tourism and cultural destination.
- Coordinate participation in tourism exhibitions, fairs, festivals and promotional events.
- Promote development and improvement of tourism facilities and supporting infrastructure.
- Facilitate partnerships and investment in tourism and cultural development.
- Support local tourism enterprises, artisans, performers, artists and creative industries.
- Promote cultural centres, museums, galleries and other heritage facilities within the county mandate.
- Organise and support cultural festivals, exhibitions, performances and heritage events.
- Document and promote traditional knowledge, indigenous practices, music, dance, crafts and cuisine.
- Conduct tourism and cultural research, surveys and market assessments.
- Maintain a database of tourism attractions, cultural assets, facilities and service providers.
Team
Sports
Mandate
To promote, develop and coordinate sports and physical recreation activities within the county, while supporting talent development, participation, healthy lifestyles and provision of sports facilities.
Objectives
- To promote sports participation, identify and nurture talent, develop sporting infrastructure and create opportunities for athletes, youth and communities to participate in sports and recreation.
Functions
- Develop and implement county sports and recreation policies, strategies and programmes.
- Identify, nurture and develop sporting talent at grassroots and competitive levels.
- Organise and coordinate county sports competitions, tournaments and recreational activities.
- Support participation of county teams and athletes in regional, national and other recognised competitions.
- Develop, rehabilitate, maintain and manage county sports facilities and playing fields.
- Promote sports among schools, youth, women, persons with disabilities and other community groups.
- Support community-based sports and recreational programmes.
- Facilitate training, coaching and capacity building for athletes, coaches, referees and sports officials.
- Maintain a database of athletes, teams, clubs, sports facilities and other sports stakeholders.
- Support establishment and strengthening of sports clubs and community sports associations.
- Identify and promote emerging sports and sporting disciplines.
- Facilitate partnerships and investment in sports development and infrastructure.
- Mobilise resources and support sponsorship of sports programmes and events.
- Promote sports as a means of youth empowerment, social inclusion and community development.
Team
Find a Service
Search or filter services by category. Download the relevant application form where available.
| Service | Description | Target Users | Application Method | Timeline | Fees | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Enterprise Registration Registration |
Registration of tour operators, homestays and guides. | Tourism businesses | Tourism office | 14 working days | From KES 3,000 | |
| Public Entertainment Licence Licensing |
Licence for entertainment venues and public performances. | Venues, promoters | County portal | 10 working days | From KES 5,000 | |
| Outdoor Event Permit Permits |
Permit for concerts, festivals and outdoor public events. | Event organisers | County office application | 10 working days | Per event schedule | |
| Sports Facility Booking Registration |
Booking of county stadia, halls and playgrounds. | Clubs, schools, organisers | Sports office | 5 working days | Per facility tariff | |
| County Sports Team Registration Registration |
Registration of clubs and teams into county leagues. | Clubs, schools | Sports office | 14 working days | KES 2,000 | |
| Artist & Creative Registration Registration |
Enrolment in the county creatives register for opportunities. | Artists, musicians, creatives | Arts desk / county portal | 7 working days | Free | |
| Cultural Heritage Site Access Advisory |
Guided access to county cultural and heritage sites. | Visitors, schools | Site office | Same day | Per entry tariff | |
| Talent Support & Sponsorship Advisory |
Sponsorship of athletes and creatives for competitions. | Athletes, creatives | Application to sports office | Per funding cycle | Free application |
Departmental Projects
County Stadium Upgrade
Terracing, pitch, changing rooms and floodlights to national standard.
Lakeshore Tourism Circuit Development
Signage, viewpoints, access roads and guide training along the Lake Victoria shoreline.
Ward Playgrounds Programme
Levelling, fencing and equipping of playgrounds in 20 wards.
County Cultural Festival
Annual festival showcasing music, dance, cuisine and crafts.
Heritage Sites Documentation
Mapping and documentation of 60 heritage sites and practices.
County Cultural & Creative Centre
Multipurpose centre with studios, gallery and performance hall.
Eco-Lodge & Campsite Concession
Public-private concession for accommodation near key attractions.
Flagship Programmes
Capacity Building
Continuous training for officers and community champions.
Youth Empowerment
Internships, grants and mentorship for young people.
Women Empowerment
Targeted access to opportunity, credit and markets.
Public Participation
Ward forums, budget hearings and citizen feedback.
Climate Action
Climate-resilient planning and greening initiatives.
Digital Transformation
e-Services, open data and automated workflows.
How Our Work Aligns
Every departmental initiative is anchored in county, national and global development frameworks.
CIDP Alignment
Directly implements the sector priorities of the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2023–2027.
- Sector programme delivery
- Ward-equitable investment
- Destination and talent development
Annual Development Plan
Translates CIDP priorities into costed annual work plans and budget proposals reviewed each fiscal year.
- FY 2026/27 costed workplan
- Ward-level project prioritization
Sustainable Development Goals
Aligns departmental targets with the global goals adopted by Kenya.
- Measured SDG indicators
- Gender-responsive programming
Governor’s Manifesto
Delivers on the commitments made to residents in the county leadership manifesto.
- Flagship commitments tracked quarterly
- Published delivery scorecard
Performance Contract
Annual targets are cascaded from the CECM through directors to individual staff appraisal.
- Service delivery KPIs
- Quarterly public reporting
Intergovernmental Coordination
Aligned with national sector policy and coordinated through the Council of Governors’ sector committee.
- Joint national–county programmes
- Donor & partner coordination
Documents & Resources
Browse official department documents organised by category.