Kisii National Polytechnic was founded on 19th December 1971 as Gusii Institute of Technology in Kisii town at a meeting of Abagusii leaders? conference attended by representatives from all walks of life.

It was registered in 1972 under the Education Act CAP 212 of the Laws of Kenya with the objective of providing technical education and training for youths. The initial courses were Secretarial and Building Technology. Since then more courses have been introduced and currently KNP offers a total of seventy four (74) at Artisan, Certificate, Diploma and Higher Diploma levels.

The institution was moved from St. Vincent Centre in Kisii town, where it was initially housed, to the current site in 1980 where it occupies 16.95 hectares of land.

The institute was elevated to a national polytechnic in May 2016 through Legal notice No. 93.