Before the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, the Republic of Kenya was administratively subdivided into eight provinces. Each province was headed by a provincial commissioner (PC) appointed by the president.
These provinces were further subdivided into districts. The total number of districts before the district creation frenzy of the 1990s was 46 (excluding Nairobi) each under District Commissioner (DC). Districts were divided into divisions under a Division Officer (DO) and then further into to 2,427 locations and then 6,612 sub-locations.
| 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | Nairobi | 694.9 | 3,138,369 | Nairobi (City) |