Sigalagala National Polytechnic (SNP) is a publicly managed National Polytechnic that was founded in 1950 as a Technical and Vocational Training Institute. Sigalagala National Polytechnic (SNP) was established in 1950 as Nyanza Technical and Trade School on a thirty-three-acre piece of land. The institution inherited land and buildings from the British gold miners who had been operating there since 1930s. In 1967, the institution was transformed to become a National Technical school offering Ordinary Level technical competencies and programs including Kenya Certificate of Education (K.C.E) and later turned into a Technical Training Institutes in the late 1980s.

The institution was elevated to a National Polytechnic by legal order number 90 of May 2016 by the Cabinet Secretary of Education in exercising the powers conferred by section 26(2) of Technical Vocational Education Training TVET act 2013. The legal notice no 90 is known as Sigalagala National Polytechnic order of 2016. The polytechnic has three campuses; the Main campus, Kakamega Town campus and Maturu campus.

The polytechnic is mandated to offer courses at certificate, diploma and higher diploma levels.  The institution produces middle-level human resource that is well-equipped with technical and business skills required in the industry. It produces technicians and technologists who are expected to play a major role towards the attainment of the Kenya Vision 2030.

The Polytechnic has developed a five-year strategic plan (2018-2023) that envisages the development and implementation of technology, related degrees that will be offered in collaboration with existing universities. Further, the strategic plan proposed the formation of collaborations and partnerships with other internationally recognized technical and vocational training institutions. As per the legal order, the polytechnic structure covers four institutes; Institute of Hospitality and Consumer Sciences, Institute of Engineering, Institute of Applied and Natural Sciences and Institute of Business.

The Polytechnic is domiciled in the Ministry of Education under the State Department of Technical and Vocational Training. The Polytechnic is managed by a governing council appointed by the cabinet secretary. Day to day running is done by the Principal with the support of Deputy principals, Directors, and Heads of departments. The polytechnic has been recognized as a Center for Skills Training and Center for Academic Excellence in Hospitality, TVET, Kenya-China TVET training project -2019.

The Polytechnic has developed a five-year strategic plan (2018-2023) that envisages the development and implementation of technology, related degrees that will be offered in collaboration with existing universities As per the legal order, the polytechnic is divided into four institutes; institute of hospitality and consumer sciences, institute of engineering, institute of applied and natural sciences, institute of business.

The Polytechnic is under the Ministry of Education, State Department of Technical and Vocational Training headed by a Director managed by a governing council appointed by the cabinet secretary.