List of Counties and Sub-Counties in Kenya

WikiList of Counties and Sub-Counties in Kenya
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Sub-counties are the decentralised units through which county governments of Kenya will provide functions and services. List of Counties and Sub-Counties in Kenya. Except for the parts which fall under urban areas, sub-counties will coincide with the constituencies created under article 89 of the Constitution of Kenya. Sub-counties will be headed by a sub-county administrator, appointed by a County Public Service Board.

Under the former Constitution of Kenya, the Provinces of Kenya were subdivided into a number of districts (wilaya). In line with restructuring the national administration to fit with the devolved government system brought in by the 2010 Constitution, that came into full effect following elections in March 2013, the 8 provinces and their administrators and districts were replaced by County Commissioners at the county level, while former districts existing as of 2013 were re-organised as sub-counties, and had Deputy Commissioners appointed over them.

List of the 46 districts plus the capital of Kenya (since 1992, but prior to 2003)

Following a High Court ruling in September 2009, there were 46 legal districts in Kenya excluding Nairobi which constituted a 47th district.

Following the Kenyan general election, 2013, these districts and Nairobi now constitute the 47 counties which will be the basis for rolling out devolution as set out in the 2010 Constitution of Kenya (district headquarters are in parenthesis):

Coast Province:

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North Eastern Province:

Eastern Province:

Central Province:

Rift Valley Province:

Western Province:

Nyanza Province:

All these 46 districts (plus Nairobi) have been replaced with 47 counties since March 2013, promoting them as the first level of administrative subdivisions of the country, and the 8 former provinces (which were the first level of subdivisions) have been dissolved.

New districts started to be created by President Moi, and there were up to 57 districts in 2003 when President Kibaki first came into office.

List of the 70 districts of Kenya (starting 2007)

In early January 2007, 37 new districts were created by the government from the 14 former districts, rising their number to 70.[6][7]

More recent (defunct) districts (after 2007 up to March 2013)

Many more districts have been created since then, such that in July 2009 there were 254 districts (an up to 256 districts plus Nairobi on 20 September 2009, when the High Court outlawed 210 of them).

The creation of new districts has been criticised by opponents for being waste of money and a populist attempt to please local residents. The government, however, say new districts bring services closer to the people and will provide security.

The following list contains 208 districts, taken from a Kenyan government website in July 2009 (the list is incomplete, but their number stopped growing after the High Court decision in September 2009):

DistrictsHeadquarters
Central Province
Gatanga District
Gatundu DistrictGatundu
Githunguri DistrictGithunguri
Kabete District
Kandara District
Kiambaa DistrictKiambu
Kiambu East DistrictKiambu
Kiambu West DistrictLimuru
Kieni West DistrictChaka
Kieni East DistrictChaka
Kigumo District
Kipipiri District
Kirinyaga Central District
Kirinyaga East DistrictKerugoya
Kirinyaga South District
Kirinyaga West District
Lari District
Mirangini District
Mukurweini DistrictMukurweini
Muranga East DistrictMuranga
Muranga South DistrictKenol
Nyandarua Central DistrictOl Kalou
Nyandarua North DistrictNyahururu
Nyandarua South DistrictEngineer
Nyandarua West District
Nyeri Central DistrictNyeri
Nyeri East DistrictKaratina
Nyeri South DistrictNyeri
Ruiru District
Thika East DistrictThika
Thika West District
Coast Province
Kaloleni DistrictKizurini
Kilifi DistrictKilifi
Kilindini DistrictDongo Kundu
Kinango DistrictKinango
Kwale DistrictKwale
Lamu DistrictLamu
Malindi DistrictMalindi
Mombasa DistrictMombasa
Msabweni DistrictMsambweni
Taita DistrictWundanyi
Tana Delta District
Tana River DistrictHola
Taveta DistrictTaveta
Eastern Province
Buuri DistrictTimau
Embu East DistrictRúnyenjes
Embu West DistrictEmbu
Garbatula DistrictGarbatula
Igembe North DistrictLaare
Igembe South DistrictMaua
Imenti North DistrictMeru
Imenti South DistrictNkubu
Isiolo DistrictIsiolo
Kangundo DistrictKangundo
Kathiani District
Kathonzweni District
Kibwezi DistrictMakindu
Kilungu District
Kitui Central DistrictKitui
Kitui West District
Kyuso DistrictKyuso
Maara DistrictKieganguru
Machakos DistrictMachakos
Makueni DistrictWote
Marsabit DistrictMarsabit
Marsabit North DistrictMalkona
Marsabit South DistrictLaisamis
Masinga District
Matungulu District
Mbeere North DistrictSiakago
Mbeere South DistrictKírítirí
Mbooni East DistrictMbumbuni
Mbooni West DistrictMbooni
Meru Central DistrictGatimbi
Meru South DistrictChuka
Moyale DistrictMoyale
Mukaa District
Mutitu District
Mutomo DistrictMutomo
Mwala District
Mwingi DistrictMwingi
Nzaui District
Tharaka North DistrictMarimanti
Tharaka South District
Tigania East DistrictMuriri
Tigania West DistrictUrru
Yatta DistrictKithimani
Nairobi Province
Nairobi East DistrictKomarock
Nairobi North DistrictKasarani
Nairobi West DistrictNdararua/J.Kangethe
Westlands District
North Eastern Province
Fafi DistrictBura
Garissa DistrictGarissa
Ijara DistrictMasaini
Lagdera DistrictModogashe
Mandera Central DistrictMandera
Mandera East DistrictEl Wak
Mandera North DistrictRhamu
Mandera West DistrictTabaka
Wajir East DistrictWajir
Wajir North DistrictBute
Wajir South DistrictHabaswein
Wajir West DistrictGritu
Nyanza Province
Bondo DistrictBondo
Borabu DistrictNyansiongo
Gucha DistrictOgembo
Homa Bay DistrictHoma Bay
Kanyanya District
Kisii Central DistrictKisii
Kisii South DistrictKerina
Kisumu East DistrictHolo
Kisumu West DistrictKisumu
Kuria East DistrictKegonga
Kuria West DistrictKehancha
Manga DistrictManga
Marani District
Masaba DistrictKeroka
Mbita District
Migori DistrictMigori
Ndhiwa DistrictNdhiwa
North Masaba District
Nyakach DistrictPap Ondit
Nyamache District
Nyamira DistrictNyamira
Nyamira North District
Nyando DistrictAwasi
Nyatike DistrictMacaider
Rachuonyo North District
Rachuonyo South District
Rarieda DistrictMadiany
Rongo DistrictRongo
Siaya DistrictSiaya
South Gucha DistrictNyamarambe
Suba DistrictMbita
Uriri District
Rift Valley Province
Baringo Central DistrictKabarnet
Baringo North DistrictKabartonjo
Bomet DistrictBomet
Buret DistrictLitein
East Pokot DistrictChemlingot
Eldoret East DistrictNaiberi
Eldoret West DistrictEldoret
Kajiado North DistrictKajiado
Kajiado South District
Keiyo DistrictIten
Kericho DistrictKericho
Kipkelion DistrictKipkelion
Koibatek DistrictEldama Ravine
Kwanza DistrictEndebess
Laikipia Central District
Laikipia East DistrictNanyuki
Laikipia North DistrictMukogodo
Laikipia West DistrictRumuruti
Loima District
Loitoktok DistrictLoitoktok
Marakwet DistrictKapsowar
Marigat District
Mogotio District
Molo DistrictMolo
Naivasha DistrictNaivasha
Nakuru DistrictNakuru Town
Nakuru North DistrictBahati
Nandi Central DistrictKapsabet
Nandi East District
Nandi North DistrictKabiyet
Nandi South DistrictKabujoi
Narok North DistrictNarok
Narok South DistrictOlulunga
Njoro District
North Pokot DistrictKacheliba
Nyahururu DistrictNyahururu
Pokot Central DistrictSighor
Samburu Central DistrictMaralal
Samburu East DistrictWamba
Samburu North DistrictBaragoi
Sotik DistrictSotik
Tinderet DistrictMaraba
Trans Nzoia East DistrictMaili Saba
Trans Nzoia West DistrictKitale
Trans Mara DistrictKilgoris
Turkana Central DistrictLodwar
Turkana East District
Turkana North DistrictLokitaung
Turkana South DistrictLokichar
Turkana West District
Wareng DistrictKesses
West Pokot DistrictKapenguria
Western Province
Bungoma Central DistrictChwele
Bungoma East DistrictWebuye
Bungoma North DistrictKimilili
Bungoma South DistrictBungoma
Bungoma West DistrictSirisia
Bunyula DistrictBudalangi
Busia DistrictBusia
Butere DistrictButere
Emuhaya DistrictKima
Hamisi DistrictHamisi
Kakamega Central DistrictKakamega
Kakamega East DistrictShinyalu
Kakamega North DistrictMalava
Kakamega South DistrictMalinya
Lugari DistrictLumakanda
Mt. Elgon DistrictKapsokwony
Mumias DistrictMumias
Samia DistrictFunyula
Teso North DistrictAmagoro
Teso South DistrictAmakura
Vihiga DistrictMbale

Sub-counties (since March 2013)

In August 2009, however, the High Court of Kenya declared all districts created after 1992 illegal. The judge stated that the districts were created “in complete disregard of the law”. As a result, Kenya had only 46 legal districts (excluding Nairobi with its special constitutional status as the capital of the country). Following the March 2013 elections, these 46 districts – together with the City of Nairobi – constitute the 47 counties into which Kenya is now divided administratively, and they are also the 47 constituencies for the elections to the National Senate.

All the former districts have disappeared (as well as the former 8 provinces whose devolution was transferred to the new 47 counties), and are now considered only as “sub-counties”, without autonomy; they are used in urban areas for a limited organisation for providing public services locally. These remaining sub-counties are transitional and could be replaced by more efficient cooperative structures grouping the local services in organised cities and their surrounding towns, either for dedicated missions or for temporary plans; so they may be deeply reorganised or disappear at any time. The remaining sub-counties already do not match with the subdivision of the new 47 counties into electoral-only “wards” (based on resident population, to determine the number of elected seats for each county in the National Senate.

There are 47 counties in Kenya that are divided further into administrative units known as the Sub-Counties. Below is a list of all the counties and their sub-counties in Kenya.

CodeCountyHeadquartersSub-Counties
30BaringoKabarnetBaringo Central, Baringo North, Baringo South, Eldama Ravine, Mogotio, Tiaty
36BometBometBomet Central, Bomet East, Chepalungu, Konoin, Sotik
39BungomaBungomaBumula, Kabuchai, Kanduyi, Kimilil, Mt Elgon, Sirisia, Tongaren, Webuye East, Webuye West
40BusiaBusiaBudalangi, Butula, Funyula, Nambele, Teso North, Teso South
28Elgeyo-MarakwetItenKeiyo North, Keiyo South, Marakwet East, Marakwet West
14EmbuEmbuManyatta, Mbeere North, Mbeere South, Runyenjes
7GarissaGarissaDaadab, Fafi, Garissa Township, Hulugho, Ijara, Lagdera, Balambala
43Homa BayHoma BayHomabay Town, Kabondo, Karachwonyo, Kasipul, Mbita, Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Suba
11IsioloIsioloIsiolo, Merti, Garbatulla
34KajiadoKajiadoIsinya, Kajiado Central, Kajiado North, Loitokitok, Mashuuru
37KakamegaKakamegaButere, Kakamega Central, Kakamega East, Kakamega North, Kakamega South, Khwisero, Lugari, Lukuyani, Lurambi, Matete, Mumias, Mutungu, Navakholo
35KerichoKerichoAinamoi, Belgut, Bureti, Kipkelion East, Kipkelion West, Soin/Sigowet
22KiambuKiambuGatundu North, Gatundu South, Githunguri, Juja, Kabete, Kiambaa, Kiambu, Kikuyu, Limuru, Ruiru, Thika Town, Lari
3KilifiKilifiGanze, Kaloleni, Kilifi North, Kilifi South, Magarini, Malindi, Rabai
20KirinyagaKerugoya/KutusKirinyaga Central, Kirinyaga East, Kirinyaga West, Mwea East, Mwea West
45KisiiKisii
42KisumuKisumuKisumu Central, Kisumu East , Kisumu West, Muhoroni, Nyakach, Nyando, Seme
15KituiKituiKitui West, Kitui Central, Kitui Rural, Kitui South, Kitui East, Mwingi North, Mwingi West, Mwingi Central
2KwaleKwaleKinango, Lunga Lunga, Msambweni, Matuga
31LaikipiaRumurutiLaikipia Central, Laikipia East, Laikipia North, Laikipia West , Nyahururu
5LamuLamuLamu East, Lamu West
16MachakosMachakosKathiani, Machakos Town, Masinga, Matungulu, Mavoko, Mwala, Yatta
17MakueniWoteKaiti, Kibwezi West, Kibwezi East, Kilome, Makueni, Mbooni
9ManderaManderaBanissa, Lafey, Mandera East, Mandera North, Mandera South, Mandera West
10MarsabitMarsabitLaisamis, Moyale, North Hor, Saku
12MeruMeruBuuri, Igembe Central, Igembe North, Igembe South, Imenti Central, Imenti North, Imenti South, Tigania East, Tigania West
44MigoriMigoriAwendo, Kuria East, Kuria West, Mabera, Ntimaru, Rongo, Suna East, Suna West, Uriri
1MombasaMombasa CityChangamwe, Jomvu, Kisauni, Likoni, Mvita, Nyali
21Murang’aMurang’aGatanga, Kahuro, Kandara, Kangema, Kigumo, Kiharu, Mathioya, Murang’a South
47NairobiNairobi CityDagoretti North, Dagoretti South, Embakasi Central, Embakasi East, Embakasi North, Embakasi South, Embakasi West, Kamukunji, Kasarani, Kibra, Lang’ata, Makadara, Mathare, Roysambu, Ruaraka, Starehe, Westlands
32NakuruNakuruBahati, Gilgil, Kuresoi North, Kuresoi South, Molo, Naivasha, Nakuru Town East, Nakuru Town West, Njoro, Rongai, Subukia
29NandiKapsabetAldai, Chesumei, Emgwen, Mosop, Nandi Hills, Tindiret
33NarokNarokNarok East, Narok North, Narok South, Narok West, Transmara East, Transmara West
46NyamiraNyamiraBorabu, Manga, Masaba North, Nyamira North, Nyamira South
18NyandaruaOl KalouKinangop, Kipipiri, Ndaragwa, Ol-Kalou, Ol Joro Orok
19NyeriNyeriKieni East, Kieni West, Mathira East, Mathira West, Mukurweini, Nyeri Town, Othaya, Tetu
25SamburuMaralalSamburu East, Samburu North, Samburu West
41SiayaSiayaAlego Usonga, Bondo, Gem, Rarieda, Ugenya, Unguja
6Taita-TavetaVoiMwatate, Taveta, Voi, Wundanyi
4Tana RiverHolaBura, Galole, Garsen
13Tharaka-NithiChukaTharaka North, Tharaka South, Chuka, Igambango’mbe, Maara, Chiakariga and Muthambi
26Trans-NzoiaKitaleCherangany, Endebess, Kiminini, Kwanza, Saboti
23TurkanaLodwarLoima, Turkana Central, Turkana East, Turkana North, Turkana South
27Uasin GishuEldoretAinabkoi, Kapseret, Kesses, Moiben, Soy, Turbo
38VihigaVihigaEmuhaya, Hamisi, Luanda, Sabatia, Vihiga
8WajirWajirEldas, Tarbaj, Wajir East, Wajir North, Wajir South, Wajir West
24West PokotKapenguriaCentral Pokot, North Pokot, Pokot South, West Pokot
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