Counties of Kenya

First-level administrative divisions of Kenya

For the defunct county councils of Kenya, see Local authorities of Kenya.

Counties of Kenya
Kaunti za Kenya (Swahili)

Category| Semi-devolved state
Location| Republic of Kenya
Number| 47 counties
Government|

* County Government, Government of Kenya

Subdivisions|

* Sub-Counties

Politics of Kenya

National Government

* Constitution
* History
* Human rights
* LGBT rights

Executive

* President (list)

William Ruto
* Deputy President

Kithure Kindiki
* Cabinet
* Prime Cabinet Secretary

Musalia Mudavadi
* Attorney General

Dorcas Oduor
* Director of Public Prosecutions

Renson Ingonga

Legislature

* National Assembly

Speaker: Moses Wetangula
List of members
Constituencies
* Senate

Speaker: Amason Kingi
List of members

Judiciary

* Chief Justice

Martha Koome
* Deputy Chief Justice

Philomena Mwilu
* Supreme Court
* Court of Appeal
* High Court
* Subordinate courts

Magistrates Courts
Kadhi Courts
Courts Martial
Tribunals
* Judicial Service Commission

Administrative divisions

* Counties
* Sub-Counties
* Constituencies

* Commissions
* Offices

* Electoral and Boundaries
* Ethics and Anti-Corruption

* National Human Rights and Equality
* National Commission on Human Rights
* Administrative Justice

* National Land Commission
* Revenue Allocation
* Salaries and Remuneration

* Service Commissions
Judicial
* National Police

Parliamentary
* Public
* Teachers

* Offices
Auditor-General
* Controller of Budget

Recent elections

*     * General: 2013
* 2017
* 2022

*     * Presidential: 2017 (Oct) 2022

*     * Local: 2007
* 2013
* 2017

Political parties

* The National Alliance
* United Republican Party
* Orange Democratic Movement
* Wiper Democratic Movement
* Party of National Unity
* Kenya African National Union
* Kenya National Congress

Foreign relations

* Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Minister: Musalia Mudavadi

* * *

* Diplomatic missions of / in Kenya

* * *

* Passport
* Visa requirements
* Visa policy

Economic schemes

* Vision 2030
* Kenya Economic Stimulus Program

Kenya portal

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

The counties of Kenya (Swahili: Kaunti za Kenya) are geographical units created by the 2010 Constitution of Kenya as the new units of devolved government. They replaced the previous provincial system.[1] The establishment and executive powers of the counties is provided in Chapter Eleven of the Constitution on devolved government, the Constitution's Fourth Schedule and any other legislation passed by the Senate of Kenya concerning counties. The counties are also single-member constituencies which elect members of the Senate,[2] and special woman members to the National Assembly.[3]

As of 2022, there were 47 counties whose size and boundaries were based on 1992 districts. Following the re-organization of Kenya's national administration, counties were integrated into a new national administration with the national government posting a county commissioner to each county to serve as a collaborative link with national government.[4]

## Establishment

[edit]

County governments were established in all 47 counties[5] after the general elections in March 2013. The counties' names are set out in the First Schedule of the Constitution.

## 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 province they were separated from, with their areas and populations as of the 2009[6] and the 2019 census:[7]

Code | County | Former
Province | Area
(km2) | Population
(2009 Census) | Population
(2019 Census) | Capital  | Postal

Abbreviations

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

001 |  Mombasa | Coast | 212.5 | 939,370 | 1,208,333 | Mombasa | MSA
002 |  Kwale | Coast | 8,270.3 | 649,931 | 866,820 | Kwale | KWL
003 |  Kilifi | Coast | 12,245.9 | 1,109,735 | 1,453,787 | Kilifi | KLF
004 |  Tana River | Coast | 35,375.8 | 240,075 | 315,943 | Hola | TRV
005 |  Lamu | Coast | 6,497.7 | 101,539 | 143,920 | Lamu | LMU
006 |  Taita–Taveta | Coast | 17,083.9 | 284,657 | 340,671 | Mwatate | TVT
007 |  Garissa | North Eastern | 45,720.2 | 623,060 | 841,353 | Garissa | GRS
008 |  Wajir | North Eastern | 55,840.6 | 661,941 | 781,263 | Wajir | WJR
009 |  Mandera | North Eastern | 25,797.7 | 1,025,756 | 867,457 | Mandera | MDR
010 |  Marsabit | Eastern | 66,923.1 | 291,166 | 459,785 | Marsabit | MRS
11 |  Isiolo | Eastern | 25,336.1 | 143,294 | 268,002 | Isiolo | ISL
12 |  Meru | Eastern | 7,003.1 | 1,356,301 | 1,545,714 | Meru | MRU
13 |  Tharaka-Nithi | Eastern | 2,609.5 | 365,330 | 393,177 | Kathwana | TNT
14 |  Embu | Eastern | 2,555.9 | 516,212 | 608,599 | Embu | EMB
15 |  Kitui | Eastern | 24,385.1 | 1,012,709 | 1,136,187 | Kitui | KTU
16 |  Machakos | Eastern | 5,952.9 | 1,098,584 | 1,421,932 | Machakos | MCK
17 |  Makueni | Eastern | 8,008.9 | 884,527 | 987,653 | Wote | MKN
18 |  Nyandarua | Central | 3,107.7 | 596,268 | 638,289 | Ol Kalou | NDR
19 |  Nyeri | Central | 2,361.0 | 693,558 | 759,164 | Nyeri | NYR
20 |  Kirinyaga | Central | 1,205.4 | 528,054 | 610,411 | Kerugoya | KRG
21 |  Murang'a | Central | 2,325.8 | 942,581 | 1,056,640 | Murang'a | MRG
22 |  Kiambu | Central | 2,449.2 | 1,623,282 | 2,417,735 | Kiambu | KMB
23 |  Turkana | Rift Valley | 98,597.8 | 1,100,399 | 1,504,976 | Lodwar | TRK
24 |  West Pokot | Rift Valley | 8,418.2 | 512,690 | 621,241 | Kapenguria | WPK
25 |  Samburu | Rift Valley | 20,182.5 | 223,947 | 310,327 | Maralal | SBR
26 |  Trans-Nzoia | Rift Valley | 2,469.9 | 818,757 | 990,341 | Kitale | TNZ
27 |  Uasin Gishu | Rift Valley | 2,955.3 | 894,179 | 1,163,186 | Eldoret | UGS
28 |  Elgeyo-Marakwet | Rift Valley | 3,049.7 | 369,998 | 454,480 | Iten | EMK
29 |  Nandi | Rift Valley | 2,884.5 | 752,965 | 885,711 | Kapsabet | NDI
30 |  Baringo | Rift Valley | 11,075.3 | 555,561 | 666,763 | Kabarnet | BRG
31 |  Laikipia | Rift Valley | 8,696.1 | 399,227 | 518,560 | Rumuruti | LKP
32 |  Nakuru | Rift Valley | 7,509.5 | 1,603,325 | 2,162,202 | Nakuru[8][9] | NKR
33 |  Narok | Rift Valley | 17,921.2 | 850,920 | 1,157,873 | Narok | NRK
34 |  Kajiado | Rift Valley | 21,292.7 | 687,312 | 1,117,840 | Kajiado | KJD
35 |  Kericho | Rift Valley | 2,454.5 | 752,396 | 901,777 | Kericho | KRC
36 |  Bomet | Rift Valley | 1,997.9 | 730,129 | 875,689 | Bomet | BMT
37 |  Kakamega | Western | 3,033.8 | 1,660,651 | 1,867,579 | Kakamega | KKG
38 |  Vihiga | Western | 531.3 | 554,622 | 590,013 | Mbale | VHG
39 |  Bungoma | Western | 2,206.9 | 1,375,063 | 1,670,570 | Bungoma | BGM
40 |  Busia | Western | 1,628.4 | 743,946 | 893,681 | Busia | BSA
41 |  Siaya | Nyanza | 2,496.1 | 842,304 | 993,183 | Siaya | SYA
42 |  Kisumu | Nyanza | 2,009.5 | 968,909 | 1,155,574 | Kisumu | KSM
43 |  Homa Bay | Nyanza | 3,154.7 | 963,794 | 1,131,950 | Homa Bay | HBY
44 |  Migori | Nyanza | 2,586.4 | 917,170 | 1,116,436 | Migori | MGR
45 |  Kisii | Nyanza | 1,317.9 | 1,152,282 | 1,266,860 | Kisii | KSI
46 |  Nyamira | Nyanza | 912.5 | 598,252 | 605,576 | Nyamira | NMR
47 |  Nairobi | Nairobi | 694.9 | 3,138,369 | 4,397,073 | Nairobi | NBI
|  |  | 581,309.0 | 38,610,997 | 47,564,296 | Nairobi |

## County governments

[edit]

County governments are responsible for county legislation (outlined in article 185 of the Constitution of Kenya), executive functions (outlined in article 183), functions outlined in the fourth schedule of the constitution of Kenya, functions transferred from the national government through article 187 of the constitution of Kenya, functions agreed upon with other counties under article 189(2) of the constitution of Kenya, and establishment and staffing of a public service (under article 235 of the Constitution of Kenya).[10] The functions of governments assigned to counties by the fourth schedule of the Constitution of Kenya are:[11]

### Agriculture

[edit]

* Crop and animal husbandry
* Livestock sale yards
* County abattoirs (slaughterhouses)
* Plant and animal disease control
* Fisheries
* Kishada

### County health services

[edit]

* County health facilities and pharmacies
* Ambulance services
* Promotion of primary health care
* Licensing and control of undertakings that sell food to the public
* Veterinary services (excluding regulation of the profession)
* Cemeteries, funeral parlors and crematoria
* Refuse removal, refuse dumps and solid waste disposal.
* Food distribution and Free services for pregnant mothers

### Pollution, nuisances and advertising control

[edit]

* Control of air pollution, noise pollution, other public nuisances and outdoor advertising

### Cultural activities, public entertainment and public amenities

[edit]

* Betting, casinos and other forms of gambling
* Racing
* Liquor licensing
* Cinemas
* Video shows and hiring
* Libraries
* Museums
* Sports and cultural activities and facilities
* County parks, beaches and recreation facilities
* Ice skating
* Sport fishing
* Golf
* Horse racing
* Rugby
* soccer

### County transport

[edit]

* County roads
* Street lighting
* Traffic and parking
* Public road transport
* Ferries and harbors, excluding the regulation of international and national shipping and matters related thereto
* SGR- Madaraka Express (modern railway experience).[12]

### Trade development and regulation

[edit]

* Markets
* Trade licenses, excluding regulation of professions
* Fair trading practices
* Local tourism
* Cooperative societies

### County planning and development

[edit]

* Statistics
* Land surveying, planning and mapping of resources
* Boundaries and fencing
* Housing
* Electricity and gas reticulation and energy regulation

### Education and childcare

[edit]

* Pre-primary education, village polytechnics, homecraft center's and childcare facilities
* Adult education and national exam registration for the same.

### Policy implementation

[edit]

* Implementation of specific national government policies on natural resources and environmental conservation
* Soil and water conservation
* Forestry

### County public works and services

[edit]

* Stormwater management systems in built-up areas
* Water and sanitation services

### Fire fighting services and disaster management

[edit]

Counties are mandated by the 2010 constitution of Kenya to enact legislation and laws that ensures management and controls of fire fighting.

### Coordination

[edit]

* Ensuring and coordinating the participation of communities and locations in governance at the local level
* Assisting communities and locations to develop the administrative capacity for the effective exercise of the functions and powers and participation in governance at the local level

## County executive committee

[edit]

The county governor and the deputy county governor are the chief executive and deputy chief executive of the county, respectively.[13] The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission[14] shall not conduct a separate election for the deputy governor but shall declare the running mate of the person who is elected county governor to have been elected as the deputy governor.[15] Each county will be run by an executive committee, consisting of:

* A governor, elected directly by the people
* A deputy, elected as running mate of the successful candidate for governorship
* A number of committee members not exceeding a third (or ten where a county assembly has more than 30 members) of the members of the respective county assembly
* A county secretary,[16] nominated by the governor and approved by the county assembly, who will double up as head of the county public service, and secretary to the county executive committee[17]

Uniquely among democracies, Kenyan law requires governors to have a recognised university degree.[18]

## County assemblies

[edit]

The counties each have an assembly[19] whose members are elected from single-member constituencies known as wards.[20] There may also be a number of nominated members as is necessary to ensure that neither male nor female members constitute more than two-thirds of the assembly.[21] There will also be six nominated members to represent marginalised groups (persons with disabilities, and the youth) and a county assembly speaker who will be an ex officio member of the assembly.[22]

## See also

[edit]

* List of counties of Kenya by population
* List of counties of Kenya by GDP
* List of counties of Kenya by poverty rate
* Provinces of Kenya
* Kenyan general election, 2013
* ISO 3166-2:KE

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Article 6, Devolution and access to Services, The 2010 Constitution of Kenya
2. ^ Article 98, (1) (a), Membership of the Senate, the 2010 Constitution of Kenya
3. ^ Article 97, (1) (b) Membership of the National Assembly, The 2010 Constitution of Kenya
4. ^ "Kenyan County Commissioners Re-Organised Under New Structure". AllAfrica. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
5. ^ "List and Format Used to Number Kenya's 47 Counties". Soko Directory. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
6. ^ Kenya National Bureau of Statistics; and the final report of the IEBC as ratified in the National Assembly Constituencies and County Assembly Wards Order, 2012.
7. ^ "Home". knbs.or.ke.
8. ^ "Senate approves Nakuru bid for city status". Business Daily. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
9. ^ Gachuhi, Kennedy. "Nakuru town's long journey to city status". The Standard. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
10. ^ Githinji (6 August 2019). "Role and Functions of County Governments in Kenya". AfroCave. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
11. ^ "2. County Governments". Kenya Law Reform Commission. 29 August 2012.
12. ^ Kivuva, Elizabeth (8 June 2023). "World Bank says SGR now ripe for electric trains". metickets.krc.co.ke. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
13. ^ "179. County executive committees". Kenya Law Reform Commission. 29 August 2012.
14. ^ Githinji (9 March 2020). "Role of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission". AfroCave. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
15. ^ "180. Election of county governor and deputy county governor". Kenya Law Reform Commission. 29 August 2012.
16. ^ Githinji (21 March 2019). "Role and Functions of the County Secretary in Kenya". AfroCave. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
17. ^ Appointment of county secretary, Section 44, County Government Act 2012
18. ^ "SHITANDA, WANJIRU OUT OVER DEGREES". The Standard. 18 January 2013. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
19. ^ Githinji (14 August 2018). "Functions and Role of the County Assembly in Kenya". AfroCave. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
20. ^ Githinji (12 April 2019). "Role of Members of the County Assembly in Kenya". AfroCave. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
21. ^ Article 177, (1) Membership of a County Assembly, The 2010 Constitution of Kenya.
22. ^ Article 177 (c), The 2010 Constitution of Kenya

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Counties of Kenya.

* Kenya county websites
* OpenData Tharaka-Nithi

* v
* t
* e

Kenya articles

History|

* Timeline
* Wanga Kingdom
* Indian Ocean slave trade
* East Africa Protectorate
* Uganda Railway
* Kenya Colony
* In World War II
* Ilemi Triangle
* Kenya African Union
* Mau Mau rebellion
* 1963 Constitution
* 1982 coup d'état attempt
* Goldenberg scandal
* 1992 Elections
* 2007–2008 crisis
* 2010 referendum
* 2013 Elections

Geography|

* Biosphere reserves
* Climate
* Ecoregions
* Environmental issues
* Great Rift Valley
* Lakes
* Mountains
* Protected areas
* Rivers
* Volcanoes
* Wildlife
* World Heritage Sites

Subdivisions|

* Cities
* Counties

Politics|

* Constitution
* Elections
* Foreign relations
* Government
* Human rights
* Intersex
* LGBT rights
* Judiciary
* Law enforcement
* Military
* Parliament
* Building
* Political parties
* President
* list
* Deputy President
* Prime Minister (defunct)

Economy|

* Agriculture
* Central bank
* Coffee
* Energy
* Real Estate
* Shilling (currency)
* Telecommunications
* Tourism
* Transport

Society|

* Child marriage
* Corruption
* Crime
* Demographics
* Education
* Health
* Human trafficking
* Languages
* Polygamy
* Prostitution
* Religion
* Squatting
* Water supply and sanitation
* Women

Culture|

* Anthem
* Cinema
* Coat of arms
* English
* Engsh
* Flag
* Names
* Literature
* Media
* Museums
* Music
* Public holidays
* Sports
* Sheng
* Swahili
* Video gaming

* Outline
* Index

* Category
* Portal

* v
* t
* e

First- and second-level administrative divisions of Kenya

47 counties
(since March 2013)|

* Baringo (30)
* Bomet (36)
* Bungoma (39)
* Busia (40)
* Elgeyo-Marakwet (28)
* Embu (14)
* Garissa (07)
* Homa Bay (43)
* Isiolo (11)
* Kajiado (34)
* Kakamega (37)
* Kericho (35)
* Kiambu (22)
* Kilifi (03)
* Kirinyaga (20)
* Kisii (45)
* Kisumu (42)
* Kitui (15)
* Kwale (02)
* Laikipia (31)
* Lamu (05)
* Machakos (16)
* Makueni (17)
* Mandera (09)
* Marsabit (10)
* Meru (12)
* Migori (44)
* Mombasa (01)
* Murang'a (21)
* Nairobi (47)
* Nakuru (32)
* Nandi (29)
* Narok (33)
* Nyamira (46)
* Nyandarua (18)
* Nyeri (19)
* Samburu (25)
* Siaya (41)
* Taita-Taveta (06)
* Tana River (04)
* Tharaka-Nithi (13)
* Trans-Nzoia (26)
* Turkana (23)
* Uasin Gishu (27)
* Vihiga (38)
* Wajir (08)
* West Pokot (24)

Principal cities
and towns|

* Nairobi (capital)
* Athi River
* Baragoi
* Bomet
* Bungoma
* Busia
* Chuka
* Eldoret
* Embu
* Garissa
* Hola
* Homa Bay
* Isiolo
* Iten
* Kabarnet
* Kajiado
* Kakamega
* Kapsabet
* Kangundo \- Tala
* Kapenguria
* Karuri
* Kericho
* Kerugoya
* Kiambu
* Kibwezi
* Kikuyu
* Kilifi
* Kisii
* Kisumu
* Kitale
* Kitengela
* Kitui
* Kwale
* Limuru
* Lodwar
* Lokichogio
* Loiyangalani
* Lamu
* Machakos
* Makindu
* Malindi
* Mandera
* Maralal
* Marsabit
* Masii
* Meru
* Mombasa
* Moyale
* Mtito Andei
* Mumias
* Murang'a
* Mutomo
* Mwingi
* Naivasha
* Nakuru
* Namanga
* Nanyuki
* Narok
* Nyahururu
* Nyamira
* Nyeri
* Ol Kalou
* Ongata Rongai
* Ruiru
* Siaya
* Thika
* Vihiga
* Voi
* Wajir
* Webuye
* Wote
* Wundanyi

* v
* t
* e

Articles on first-level administrative divisions of African countries

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* The Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* Somaliland
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Western Sahara
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

Table of administrative country subdivisions by country
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template