Provinces of Kenya

Kenya's provinces were replaced by a system of counties in 2010.

Former Provinces of Kenya

1. Central 2. Coast 3. Eastern 4. Nairobi

5. North Eastern 6. Nyanza 7. Rift Valley 8. Western

History

Before the new constitution of Kenya that came into force on August 27th 2010, Kenya was divided into eight provinces (see map). The provinces were subdivided into 46 districts (excluding Nairobi) which were further subdivided into 262 divisions. The divisions were subdivided into 2,427 locations and then 6,612 sublocations.[1] A province was administered by a Provincial Commissioner (PC).

Kenyan local authorities mostly do not follow common boundaries with divisions. They are classified as City, Municipality, Town or County councils.

A third discrete type of classification are electoral constituencies. They are electoral areas without administrative functions, and are further subdivided into wards.

Former provinces

1. Central Kenya
2. Coastal Kenya
3. East Kenya
4. Nairobi
5. Northeast Kenya
6. Nyanza
7. Rift Valley
8. West Kenya

Counties by former province

Code	County	Province	Area (km^2)	Population (2009 Census)	Location
1	Mombasa	Coast	212.5	939,370	Mombasa (City)
2	Kwale	Coast	8,270.3	649,931	Kwale
3	Kilifi	Coast	12,245.9	1,109,735	Kilifi
4	Tana River	Coast	35,375.8	240,075	Hola
5	Lamu	Coast	6,497.7	101,539	Lamu
6	Taita-Taveta	Coast	17,083.9	284,657	Voi
	Sub-Totals	Coast	79,686.1	3,325,307
7	Garissa	North Eastern	45,720.2	623,060	Garissa
8	Wajir	North Eastern	55,840.6	661,941	Wajir
9	Mandera	North Eastern	25,797.7	1,025,756	Mandera
	Sub-Totals	North Eastern	127,358.5	2,310,757
10	Marsabit	Eastern	66,923.1	291,166	Marsabit
11	Isiolo	Eastern	25,336.1	143,294	Isiolo
12	Meru	Eastern	5,127.1	1,356,301	Meru
13	Tharaka-Nithi	Eastern	2,409.5	365,330	Chuka
14	Embu	Eastern	2,555.9	516,212	Embu
15	Kitui	Eastern	24,385.1	1,012,709	Kitui
16	Machakos	Eastern	5,952.9	1,098,584	Machakos
17	Makueni	Eastern	8,008.9	884,527	Wote
	Sub-Totals	Eastern	140,698.6	5,668,123
18	Nyandarua	Central	3,107.7	596,268	Ol Kalou
19	Nyeri	Central	2,361.0	693,558	Nyeri
20	Kirinyaga	Central	1,205.4	528,054	Kerugoya / Kutus
21	Murang'a	Central	2,325.8	942,581	Murang'a
22	Kiambu	Central	2,449.2	1,623,282	Kiambu
	Sub-Totals	Central	11,449.1	4,383,743
23	Turkana	Rift Valley	71,597.8	855,399	Lodwar
24	West Pokot	Rift Valley	8,418.2	512,690	Kapenguria
25	Samburu	Rift Valley	20,182.5	223,947	Maralal
26	Trans Nzoia	Rift Valley	2,469.9	818,757	Kitale
27	Uasin Gishu	Rift Valley	2,955.3	894,179	Eldoret
28	Elgeyo-Marakwet	Rift Valley	3,049.7	369,998	Iten
29	Nandi	Rift Valley	2,884.5	752,965	Kapsabet
30	Baringo	Rift Valley	11,075.3	555,561	Kabarnet
31	Laikipia	Rift Valley	8,696.1	399,227	Rumuruti
32	Nakuru	Rift Valley	7,509.5	1,603,325	Nakuru
33	Narok	Rift Valley	17,921.2	850,920	Narok
34	Kajiado	Rift Valley	21,292.7	687,312	Kajiado
35	Kericho	Rift Valley	2,454.5	752,396	Kericho
36	Bomet	Rift Valley	1,997.9	730,129	Bomet
	Sub-Totals	Rift Valley	182,505.1	10,006,805
37	Kakamega	Western	3,033.8	1,660,651	Kakamega
38	Vihiga	Western	531.3	554,622	Vihiga
39	Bungoma	Western	2,206.9	1,375,063	Bungoma
40	Busia	Western	1,628.4	743,946	Busia
	Sub-Totals	Western	7,400.4	4,334,202
41	Siaya	Nyanza	2,496.1	842,304	Siaya
42	Kisumu	Nyanza	2,009.5	968,909	Kisumu
43	Homa Bay	Nyanza	3,154.7	963,794	Homa Bay
44	Migori	Nyanza	2,586.4	917,170	Migori
45	Kisii	Nyanza	1,317.9	1,152,282	Kisii
46	Nyamira	Nyanza	912.5	598,252	Nyamira
	Sub-Totals	Nyanza	12,477.1	5,442,711
47	Nairobi	Nairobi	694.9	3,138,369	Nairobi (City)
	Totals		581,309.0	38,610,097

See also

• ISO 3166-2:KE
• List of provinces of Kenya by Human Development Index

References

1. Central Bureau of Statistics (Kenya): Census cartography: The Kenyan Experience