Counties of Kenya Kaunti za Kenya (Swahili) | |
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Category | Semi-devolved state |
Location | Republic of Kenya |
Number | 47 counties |
Government | |
Subdivisions |
Kenyaportal |
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]
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.
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mombasa | Coast | 212.5 | 939,370 | 1,208,333 | Mombasa | MSA |
2 | Kwale | Coast | 8,270.3 | 649,931 | 866,820 | Kwale | KWL |
3 | Kilifi | Coast | 12,245.9 | 1,109,735 | 1,453,787 | Kilifi | KLF |
4 | Tana River | Coast | 35,375.8 | 240,075 | 315,943 | Hola | TRV |
5 | Lamu | Coast | 6,497.7 | 101,539 | 143,920 | Lamu | LMU |
6 | Taita–Taveta | Coast | 17,083.9 | 284,657 | 340,671 | Wundanyi | TVT |
7 | Garissa | North Eastern | 45,720.2 | 623,060 | 841,353 | Garissa | GRS |
8 | Wajir | North Eastern | 55,840.6 | 661,941 | 781,263 | Wajir | WJR |
9 | Mandera | North Eastern | 25,797.7 | 1,025,756 | 867,457 | Mandera | MDR |
10 | 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 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]
Counties are mandated by the 2010 constitution of Kenya to enact legislation and laws that ensures management and controls of fire fighting.
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:
Uniquely among democracies, Kenyan law requires governors to have a recognised university degree. [18]
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]
The politics of Kenya take place in a framework of a presidential republic, whereby the president is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system in accordance with a new constitution passed in 2010.
Meru County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya located in the former Eastern Province. It borders Isiolo County to the north, Tharaka-Nithi County to the South, Nyeri County to the southwest and Laikipia County to the west. Meru County has a population of 1.35 million people. It is home to the Meru people.
Laikipia County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya, located on the Equator in the former Rift Valley Province. Laikipia is a cosmopolitan county and is listed as county number 31. The county has two major urban centres: Nanyuki to the southeast, and Nyahururu to the southwest. Its county government headquarters town is Rumuruti.
Kericho County is one of the 47 counties in Kenya. The county seats between longitude 35°02' and 35°40' East and between the equator and latitude 0°23' South with an altitude of about 2002m above sea level. It borders Uasin Gishu County to the North, Baringo County to the North-East, Nandi County to the North-West, Nakuru County to the East and Bomet County to the South, Kisumu County to the Northwest and Nyamira County to the West. It had a population of 901,777 and an area of 2,111 km². Its capital and largest town is Kericho.
Lamu County is a county in Kenya located along the North Coast of the country and is one of the six Coastal Counties in Kenya. Its capital is the town of Lamu. It borders Tana River County to the southwest, Garissa County to the north, Somalia to the northeast, and the Indian Ocean to the South. It is the Smallest County in Kenya by population.
Kiambu County is a county in the former Central Province of Kenya. Its capital is Kiambu and its largest town is Thika town. Kiambu County is the second most populous county in Kenya after Nairobi County. Kiambu County borders Nairobi and Kajiado Counties to the South, Machakos to the East, Murang'a to the North and North East, Nyandarua to the North West, and Nakuru to the West. It has a population of 2,417,735.
Nyamira County is a county in the former Nyanza Province of Kenya. Formally a district, Nyamira was hived off Kisii District in 1989, and it shares a common boundary with what was known as Nyamira District. The main cash crops grown are bananas and tea. The county has a population of 605,576. Its capital and largest town is Nyamira, with an urban population of around 41,668 The county is also referred to as North Kisii.
Kajiado County is a county in the former Rift Valley Province of Kenya. As of 2019, Kajiado county spanned an area of 21,292.7 km2, with a recorded population of 1,117,840. The county borders Nairobi and to its south it borders the Tanzanian regions of Arusha and Kilimanjaro. The county capital is Kajiado town but the largest town is Ongata Rongai. Its main tourist attraction is wildlife.
Makueni County is a county in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Wote. It's the largest town in the county. Emali town which is an important market and stop over for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), is another major town in the county. It is multicultural and adds diversity to Makueni County. The county had a population of 987,653 in the 2019 census. The county lies between Latitude 1° 35' and 2° 59' South and Longitude 37° 10' and 38° 30' East. It borders Machakos County to the North, Kitui County to the East, Taita Taveta County to the South and Kajiado County to the West and covers an area of 8,008.9 km2.
Homa Bay County is a county in the former Nyanza Province of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Homa Bay. The county has a population of 1,131,950 and an area of 3,154.7 km2. Lake Victoria is a major source of livelihood for Homa Bay County. It has 40 wards, each represented by an MCA in the Homa Bay county assembly located in Homa Bay town, which is the county headquarters.
Garissa County is a county in Kenya located in Eastern Kenya bordering Somalia to the East, Wajir County and Isiolo County to the North, Tana River County to the West, Lamu County to the South and the Indian ocean. Its capital and largest urban area is Garissa.
Mandera County is a county in northeastern Kenya, bordering Ethiopia to the north, Somali to the east, and Wajir to the south. It is predominantly home to the Somali community, with a population of about 983,000 (2024), making it the 28th largest county in Kenya by population. Covering an area of approximately 25,797 square kilometers, Mandera County features natural landscapes, including the Dawa River and vast deserts.
The Government of the Republic of Kenya (GoK) is the national government of the Republic of Kenya located in East Africa. It is composed of 47 Counties, each county with its own semi-autonomous governments, including the national capital of Nairobi, where the national government is primarily based.
Kisii County is a county in the former Nyanza Province in southwestern Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Kisii. The county has a population of 1,266,860 people according to the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census. It borders Nyamira County to the North East, Narok County to the South, and Homa bay and Migori Counties to the West. The county covers an area of 1,318 km2.
The Senate of the Republic of Kenya is one of the two Houses of the Parliament of Kenya, along with the National Assembly. The Senate was first established as part of Kenya's 1963 Constitution.
The Constitution of Kenya is the supreme law of the Republic of Kenya. There have been three significant versions of the constitution, with the most recent redraft being enabled in 2010. The constitution was presented to the Attorney General of Kenya on 7 April 2010, officially published on 6 May 2010, and was subjected to a referendum on 4 August 2010. The new Constitution was approved by 67% of Kenyan voters. The constitution was promulgated on 27 August 2010.
The Office of Controller of Budget of Kenya is an Independent Office established under Article 228 of The Constitution of Kenya with the core mandate being to oversee implementation of the budgets of the National and County Governments by authorising withdrawal from public funds.
Sub-counties, formerly known as Districts, are the decentralised units through which government of Kenya provides functions and services. At national level, sub-counties take a more administrative function like security, statistical purposes, provision of government services, etc. Even though the sub-counties are divisions of counties, powers to create new national sub-counties lies with the national government. As of 2023, there are 314 sub-counties, compared to 290 constituencies. A deputy county commissioner is appointed by the state to lead each sub-county. The sub-counties are further divided into divisions, locations and sub-locations.
The office of the County Governor of Nandi is one of the State Offices in 47 devolved governments in 47 Counties of Kenya. The county governor and the deputy governor are the chief executive and the deputy chief executive of the county. The first Governor of Nandi is Dr. Cleophas Kiprop Lagat who was elected on 4 March 2013 General Election, directly by the registered voters in the county. His deputy is Dominic Chepyagan Biwott who was his running mate. Dr. Lagat appointed, on 3 June 2013, the following 10 County Executive Committee(CEC) Members to representing their departments, in the exercise of the powers conferred to him by Article 179 (2) (b) of the Constitution of Kenya as read with sections 30 (2) (d), (e) and 35 of the County Governments Act, 2012, and upon approval by the Nandi County Assembly in its session. He later on appointed Chief Officers for respective Departments who are by law the accounting and authorized public officers.
A Machakos County Assembly is the forum through which the people of Machakos participate in the making of laws, formulation of policies for taxation, budgeting, and the establishment of the Machakos County public service.