Kenyan cities Population tables |
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Cities |
Population List of cities |
Urban areas |
African Metro Areas |
The following is a list of the most populous cities, municipalities and towns of Kenya. In Kenya there are only five incorporated cities including the capital and largest city, Nairobi, the second largest and the coastal city of Mombasa, the third largest and inland port city of Kisumu, the 4th City to get the Status of the City was Nakuru, that was upgraded from a municipality on 1 December 2021, the latest City to get this upgrade is Eldoret which was elevated on 15th August, 2024 in a colourful ceremony that happened alongside welcoming the Olympic Champions from Paris, France. Two of the five cities, Nairobi and Mombasa, are cities whose county borders run the same as their city limits, so in a way they could be thought of as city-counties. Apart from these five cities, there are numerous municipalities and towns with significant urban populations.
The list:
Capital city | |
City | |
Municipality | |
Others |
The municipalities of Ruiru, Kikuyu,Thika, Mavoko, and Ngong which feature on the top 10 list of the most populated towns in Kenya also fall within the Nairobi Metropolitan region. Data for the largest urban centers in Kenya was provided under the Kenya Population Census of 2019. [1]
№ | City/ Town | Status | Population | County | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Nairobi | Capital | 4,828,000 | Nairobi | [2] |
2. | Mombasa | City | 1,208,333 | Mombasa | [3] |
3. | Nakuru | City | 570,674 | Nakuru | [3] |
4. | Ruiru | Municipality (Ruiru + Githurai) | 490,120 | Kiambu | [3] |
5. | Eldoret | City | 475,716 | Uasin Gishu | [3] |
6. | Kisumu | City | 397,957 | Kisumu | [3] |
7. | Kikuyu | Municipality | 323,881 | Kiambu | [3] |
8. | Ngong | Municipality (Ngong + O/Rongai) | 279,757 | Kajiado | [3] |
9. | Mavoko | Municipality (Mlolongo + Athi River + Syokimau + Katani + Githunguri) | 258,498 | Machakos | [4] |
10. | Thika | Municipality | 251,407 | Kiambu/Murang'a | [3] |
11. | Naivasha | Municipality | 198,444 | Nakuru | [3] |
12. | Karuri | Municipality (Ruaka + Ndenderu) | 194,342 | Kiambu | [3] |
13. | Kitale | Municipality | 162,560 | Trans Nzoia | [4] |
14. | Juja | Municipality | 156,041 | Kiambu | [4] |
15. | Kitengela | Municipality (Kitengela + Kisaju) | 154,643 | Kajiado | [4] |
16. | Kiambu | Municipality | 155,896 | Kiambu | [4] |
17. | Malindi | Municipality | 119,859 | Kilifi | [4] |
18. | Mandera | Municipality | 114,718 | Mandera | [4] |
19. | Kisii | Municipality | 112,417 | Kisii/Nyamira | [4] |
20. | Kakamega | Municipality | 107,227 | Kakamega | [4] |
21. | Mtwapa | Municipality | 90,677 | Kilifi | [4] |
22. | Wajir | Municipality | 90,116 | Wajir | [4] |
23. | Lodwar | Municipality | 82,970 | Turkana | [4] |
24. | Limuru | Municipality | 81,316 | Kiambu | [4] |
25. | Meru | Municipality | 80,191 | Meru | [4] |
26. | Nyeri | Municipality | 80,081 | Nyeri | [4] |
27. | Isiolo | Municipality | 78,650 | Isiolo | [4] |
28. | Ukunda | Municipality (Diani Municipality) | 77,686 | Kwale | [4] |
29. | Kiserian | Town Council | 76,903 | Kajiado | [4] |
30. | Kilifi | Municipality | 74,270 | Kilifi | [4] |
31. | Nanyuki | Municipality | 72,813 | Laikipia/Nyeri | [4] |
32. | Busia | Municipality | 71,886 | Busia | [4] |
33. | Migori | Municipality | 71,668 | Migori | [4] |
34. | Bungoma | Municipality | 68,031 | Bungoma | [4] |
35. | Narok | Municipality | 65,430 | Narok | [4] |
36. | Embu | Municipality | 64,979 | Embu | [4] |
37. | Machakos | Municipality | 63,767 | Machakos | [4] |
38. | El Wak | Municipality | 60,732 | Mandera | [4] |
39. | Gilgil | Municipality | 60,711 | Nakuru | [4] |
40. | Kimilili | Municipality | 56,050 | Bungoma | [4] |
41. | Kericho | Municipality | 53,804 | Kericho | [4] |
42. | Voi | Municipality | 53,353 | Taita-Taveta | [4] |
43. | Wanguru | Municipality | 51,722 | Kirinyaga | [4] |
44. | Habaswein | Town Council | 49,599 | Wajir | [4] |
45. | Turi | Municipality | 48,356 | Nakuru | [4] |
46. | Moyale | Other Centre | 47,850 | Marsabit | [4] |
47. | Homa Bay | Municipality | 44,949 | Homa Bay | [4] |
48. | Kenol | Other Centre | 44,086 | Muranga | [4] |
49. | Masalani | Town Council | 43,642 | Garissa | [4] |
50. | Muranga | Municipality | 43,314 | Muranga | [4] |
51. | Webuye | Municipality | 42,642 | Bungoma | [4] |
52. | Njoro | Town Council | 42,173 | Nakuru | [4] |
53. | Kapsabet | Municipality | 41,997 | Nandi | [4] |
54. | Mumias | Municipal | 41,942 | Kakamega | [4] |
55. | Kerugoya-Kutus | Municipality | 39,188 | Kirinyaga | [4] |
56. | Nyahururu | Municipality | 37,650 | Laikipia/Nyandarua | [4] |
57. | Marsabit | Municipality | 36,289 | Marsabit | [4] |
58. | Rhamu | Town Council | 35,644 | Mandera | [4] |
59. | Siaya | Municipality | 33,153 | Siaya | [4] |
60. | Mariakani | Municipality | 31,715 | Kwale/Kilifi | [4] |
60. | Maralal | Municipality | 31,350 | Samburu | [4] |
61. | Mairo-Inya | Municipality | 30,527 | Nyandarua | [4] |
62. | Kitui | Municipality | 29,062 | Kitui | [4] |
63. | Makutano | Town Council | 28,469 | West Pokot | [4] |
64. | Elburgon | Town Council | 28,359 | Nakuru | [4] |
65. | Watamu | Town Council | 27,857 | Kilifi | |
66. | Lamu | Municipality | 25,385 | Lamu | [4] |
67. | Kajiado | Municipality | 24,678 | Kajiado | [4] |
68. | Nyamira | Municipality | 24,483 | Nyamira | [4] |
69. | Isebania | Town Council | 23,891 | Migori | [4] |
70. | Karatina | Municipality | 23,552 | Nyeri | [4] |
71. | Kakuma | Town Council | 22,984 | Turkana | [4] |
72. | Lafey | Town Council | 22,882 | Mandera | [4] |
73. | Bondo | Municipality | 22,712 | Siaya | [4] |
74. | Kabarnet | Municipality | 22,474 | Baringo | [4] |
75. | Chuka | Municipality | 22,388 | Tharaka-Nithi | [4] |
76. | Kehancha | Municipality | 22,194 | Migori | [4] |
77. | Maua | Municipality | 22,121 | Meru | [4] |
78. | Taveta | Town Council | 22,018 | Taita-Taveta | [4] |
79. | Takaba | Town Council | 114,718 | Mandera | [4] |
80. | Eldama Ravine | Town Council | 21,385 | Baringo | [4] |
81. | Hola | Municipality | 20,912 | Tana River | [4] |
82. | Mai Mahiu | Other Centre | 20,823 | Nakuru | [3] |
83. | Rongo | Municipality | 20,688 | Migori | [4] |
84. | Oyugis | Municipality | 19,947 | Homabay | [4] |
85. | Wote | Municipality | 19,725 | Makueni | [4] |
86. | Emali | Municipality | 62,404 | Makueni/Kajiado | [4] |
87. | Garbatula | Other Centre | 17,443 | Isiolo | [4] |
88. | Mbale | Other Centre | 17,404 | Vihiga | [4] |
89. | Mwingi | Municipality | 17,025 | Kitui | [4] |
90. | Awendo | Municipality | 16,815 | Migori | [4] |
91. | Kiminini | Town Council | 16,560 | Trans Nzoia | [4] |
92. | Moi's Bridge | Other Centre | 16,355 | Uasin Gishu/Trans Nzoia | [4] |
93. | Mazeras | Other Centre | 16,254 | Kwale/Kilifi | [4] |
94. | Malaba | Municipality | 15,581 | Busia | [4] |
95. | Makindu | Town Council | 15,038 | Makueni | [4] |
96. | Banissa | Other Centre | 14,974 | Mandera | [4] |
97. | Msambweni | Other Centre | 14,951 | Kwale | [4] |
98. | Namanga | Other Centre | 14,922 | Kajiado | [4] |
99. | Mbita | Municipality | 14,916 | Homa Bay | [4] |
100. | Isinya | Other Centre | 14,429 | Kajiado | [4] |
County | Number of Cities/ Towns (Top 100) |
---|---|
Kiambu | 7 |
Kajiado | 5 |
Bungoma, Kericho, Kilifi, Kisumu, Machakos, Nakuru, Kisii | 4 |
Busia, Homa Bay, Kajiado, Kakamega, Laikipia, Migori, Taita-Taveta | 3 |
Embu, Kitui, Meru, Murang'a, Nyamira, Siaya, Turkana, Trans-Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga | 2 |
Baringo, Bomet, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Garissa, Isiolo, Kirinyaga, Kwale, Mandera, Marsabit, Nandi, Narok, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Samburu, Tharaka-Nithi, Wajir, West Pokot. | 1 |
Eldoret is a city in the Rift Valley region of Kenya. It serves as the capital of Uasin Gishu County. Located in western Kenya, and lying south of the Cherangani Hills, the local elevation varies from about 2,100 metres (6,900 ft) at the airport to more than 2,700 metres (8,900 ft) in nearby areas.
Kisumu is the third-largest city in Kenya after the capital, Nairobi, and Mombasa. It is the second-largest city after Kampala in the Lake Victoria Basin. The city has a population of slightly over 600,000. The metro region, including Maseno and Ahero, has a population of 1,155,574 people according to the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census which was conducted by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
Nakuru is a city in the Rift Valley region of Kenya. It is the capital of Nakuru County, and is the third largest urban area in Kenya. As of 2019, Nakuru has an urban population of 570,674, making it the largest urban centre in the Rift Valley, succeeding Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County. The city lies along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway, 160 kilometres (99 mi) from Nairobi.
Nakuru County is a county in Kenya. It is county number 32 out of the 47 Kenyan counties. Nakuru County is a host to Kenya's Fourth City – Nakuru City. On 1 December 2021, President Uhuru Kenyatta awarded a City Charter status to Nakuru, ranking it with Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu as the cities in Kenya. With a population of 2,162,202, it is the third most populous county in Kenya after Nairobi County and Kiambu County, in that order. With an area of 7,496.5 km2, it is Kenya's 19th largest county in size. Until 21 August 2010, it formed part of Rift Valley Province.
Kisumu County is one of 47 counties in the Republic of Kenya. Its borders follow those of the original Kisumu District, one of the former administrative districts of the former Nyanza Province in western Kenya. Its headquarters is Kisumu City which is the third largest city in Kenya after the capital Nairobi and the coastal city of Mombasa. It has a population of 1,155,574. The land area of Kisumu County totals 2085.9 km2.
Ruiru is a municipality and sub-county in Kiambu County, Kenya. It sits within the greater Nairobi Metropolitan region. According to the 2019 national population census, Ruiru is the 4th largest urban centre in Kenya by population. The name Ruiru is of the Kikuyu dialect and possibly relates to the black cotton soil that is found in most parts of Ruiru to the east and south.
Athi River is a town outside Nairobi, Kenya in Machakos County. The town is named after the Athi River, which passes through. It is also known as Mavoko.
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.
Hinduism is a minority faith in Kenya, constituting 0.13% of the population of Kenya. Due to the efforts of the Hindu Council of Kenya, Kenya is one of only three African countries to recognise Hinduism as a religion. Hindus are free to practise their religion in Kenya, and several Kenyan cities have Hindu temples. The Hindu temples in Kenya are mostly of north and west Indian architectural style.
Local authorities in Kenya are the bodies controlling local governance in urban areas in Kenya.
Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) is a state corporation that has the responsibility of transporting, storing and delivering petroleum products to the consumers of Kenya by its pipeline system and oil depot network.
Credit Bank Limited (CBL), commonly referred to as Credit Bank, is a commercial bank in Kenya, the largest economy in the East African Community. It is licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya, the central bank and national banking regulator.
Sub-counties, also 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 real estate sector in Kenya has seen a boom that began somewhere in the mid to late 2000s because the property market is responding to increased demand.
Mwalimu Cooperative Savings and Credit Society Limited, also known as Mwalimu National Sacco Limited, but often referred to as Mwalimu Sacco, is a savings and credit co-operative society (Sacco) in Kenya, the largest economy in the East African Community. It is an institutional Sacco, composed of the staff of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), TSC teachers in secondary and tertiary institutions, TSC teachers in elementary schools, the staff of Mwalimu National Sacco Limited and the spouses of the above members, when formally gainfully employed. The society is licensed and regulated by the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority.
Bank of India (Kenya) is a commercial bank in Kenya. It is one of the commercial banks licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya, the national banking regulator.
The Nairobi–Malaba Road, also Nairobi–Uganda Road or A104 Road (Kenya) is a major highway in Kenya, the largest economy in the East African Community. The road connects Nairobi, the capital and largest city in Kenya, with the border town of Malaba at the international border with Uganda.
The A8 road is a road in Kenya that spans 923 kilometers. It connects the Ugandan border to the port city of Mombasa, passing through Eldoret and Nairobi. The road is one of the main transportation routes in Kenya, providing an east–west connection. It also serves as a route for international traffic to and from Uganda.
Table 2.5: Distribution of Population by Urban Centres, Sex* and County
Distribution of Population by Urban Centres Nairobi City: 4,397,073; Mombasa: 1,208,333; Nakuru: 570,674; Ruiru: 371,111; Eldoret: 475,716; Kisumu: 397,957