This study assessed the local knowledge, natural population structure, phenology, fruit yield, fruit quality, propagation, marketing and processing of Vitex payos, an indigenous fruit tree species in Kenya. It was conducted in three districts, namely Mbeere, Mwingi and Kitui. Two sample villages were selected from Mbeere and Kitui districts and four villages from Mwingi district with V payos trees. Local knowledge was obtained by administering 114 questionnaires to 20% of randomly selected households in these villages. Observations and informal discussions were also held. Information on V payos tree population structure involved sampling two land uses in each study district using a nearest neighbour technique sampling 100 individuals. Subsequently, the area covered by 100 trees was divided into 50 x 50 m subplots, and a random 10% sample of these subplots were used to assess the regeneration status. Also ten randomly selected mature trees were marked in each study site under two land uses to monitor leafing, flowering and fruiting phenophases on a biweekly basis for two years covering two fruiting seasons. Fruit yields of 20 randomly selected fruiting trees in each land use were obtained using both total counts and random branch sampling. Tree dendrometric variables (height, dbh, crown depth and crown diameter) were measured. Seventy five percent of these trees were used to derive the fruit prediction equation using regression analysis while 25% were used to test the goodness of the equation. Fruit pulp was assessed for proximate, mineral and vitamin content using standard procedures. Grafting trials were performed using top wedge, splice, whip and tongue techniques. Rooting trials were performed using river sand, saw dust and their 50:50 combination as rooting medium and NAA and three concentrations (0.5%, 0.8%, 1.0%) of IBA rooting hormones. Shooting of cuttings was assessed biweekly while rooting was assessed after 5 months. Market survey was carried out in local markets targeting fruit vendors using structured questionnaire. Processed V payos jam was compared for colour, taste, aroma and after-taste acceptability with two fruit jams already in the market. Results showed that fruit harvesting was mainly by women and children while marketing was purely by women. There was no on farm planting of V payos due to small size of farms and lack of seedlings. Fruits were consumed raw and fresh by the majority of household members. Presale sorting involved removal of vegetative material and rotten fruits. Ripening was hastened by covering mature fruits with ashes for two days. Most fruits were sold on farm; others were bought by vendors. Some collectors however took and sold some fruits to local markets by themselves. Marketing was individually done by collectors with no information sharing. The population structure of mature trees showed trees were; stocking densities ranged from 2 to 20 tree ha-'. Seedlings and saplings were more in bushland than on farms in all study areas. There were 55 and 15 seedlings ha-1, and 13 and 5 sapling per ha-' in bushland and farms respectively. The majority of seedlings maturing into saplings were coppices and root sprouts. Fruit yield per tree ranged from 179 to 22068 with a mean of 5150. A logarithmic equation using the inverse of crown diameter and height variables gave the best yield prediction. Random branch sampling technique estimated individual tree fruits with -24% to 44% variation from the true value using only six terminal branches per tree. Wedge grafting techniques recorded 28.6% success rate while whip and tongue had a 10.7%. Three grafts produced fruits 1 year after planting, reducing gestation period from around 7 years to 1 year. Sprouting was highest among NAA treated stem cuttings while rooting was highest among NAA and 1 % IBA treated cuttings. Fruit processing equipment improved pulping and recovery of pulp five times compared to manual pulping. Vitex payos jam was least accepted especially among men due to traditional believe associated with the fruits. There is a need to identify superior germplasm from the natural range for future regeneration. Grafting and stem cutting rooting protocols should also be refined in order to produce superior planting materials. Fruit processing equipment should also be refined and promoted to encourage more fruit processing. Packaging of fresh fruits and promotion of processed fruit products require more emphasis to broaden the consumers.