The counties of Kenya are geographical governance areas create by the 2010 Constitution of Kenya as the units of devolved government.
There are 47 counties whose size and boundaries are based on the 47 legally recognised Districts of Kenya. That is based on the pre 1992 Districts of Kenya The counties’ names are set out in the First Schedule of the Constitution of Kenya.
Establishment[edit]
County governments were established in 47 counties (largely), after the scheduled general elections in March 2013.
List of counties[edit]
Under the new constitution, Kenya is now divided into 47 counties for administrative purposes. They are grouped below according to the former region of which they were part, with their areas and populations as of the 2009 census:[5]
| Code | County | Region | Area (km2) | Population (2009 Census) |
HQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mombasa (County) | 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 | Mwatate |
| 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 |
| 10 | Marsabit | Eastern | 66,923.1 | 291,166 | Marsabit |
| 11 | Isiolo | Eastern | 25,336.1 | 143,294 | Isiolo |
| 12 | Meru | Eastern | 6,930.1 | 1,356,301 | Meru |
| 13 | Tharaka-Nithi | Eastern | 2,409.5 | 365,330 | Kathwana |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | Nanyuki |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 41 | Siaya | Nyanza | 2,496.1 | 842,304 | Siaya |
| 42 | Kisumu | Nyanza | 2,009.5 | 968,909 | Kisumu(City) |
| 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 |
| 47 | Nairobi (County) | Nairobi (Province) | 694.9 | 3,138,369 | Nairobi (City |