List of Kenya Counties and Capitals - Largest and Smallest by Area & Population

Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: May 27, 2026

Kenya is divided into 47 counties. Here is a list of the counties in Kenya:

Kenya is an East African country bordered by Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. The country is divided into 47 counties, and those counties are further divided into sub-counties and local administrative units. Nairobi is the national capital and also the largest city in Kenya.

The country includes savannas, mountains, lakes, forests, coastal plains, and major wildlife reserves spread across East Africa. Different counties are known for agriculture, tourism, trade, wildlife conservation, technology industries, and cultural diversity.

Key Facts

National capital: Nairobi
Total population: 55,300,000 (Official estimate 2025)
Total area: 580,367 km² (224,081 sq miles)
Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KES)
Bordering countries: Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania
Total Counties: 47
Total Sub-Counties: 290+

List of Counties and Capitals of Kenya

Total counties shown: 47 | Combined population: 55,300,000 | Combined area: 580,367 km²

#	County Name	Capital City	Region	Area (km²)	Population (Latest Census)
1	Baringo	Kabarnet	Rift Valley	11,015	730,000
2	Bomet	Bomet	Rift Valley	1,997	910,000
3	Bungoma	Bungoma	Western Kenya	2,069	1,750,000
4	Busia	Busia	Western Kenya	1,694	1,050,000
5	Elgeyo-Marakwet	Iten	Rift Valley	3,049	520,000
6	Embu	Embu	Eastern Kenya	2,821	650,000
7	Garissa	Garissa	Northeastern Kenya	44,175	950,000
8	Homa Bay	Homa Bay	Nyanza	3,154	1,250,000
9	Isiolo	Isiolo	Northern Kenya	25,700	320,000
10	Kajiado	Kajiado	Rift Valley	21,871	1,200,000
11	Kakamega	Kakamega	Western Kenya	3,051	2,000,000
12	Kericho	Kericho	Rift Valley	2,479	980,000
13	Kiambu	Kiambu	Central Kenya	2,449	2,600,000
14	Kilifi	Kilifi	Coastal Kenya	12,246	1,650,000
15	Kirinyaga	Kerugoya	Central Kenya	1,478	650,000
16	Kisii	Kisii	Nyanza	1,317	1,350,000
17	Kisumu	Kisumu	Nyanza	2,009	1,250,000
18	Kitui	Kitui	Eastern Kenya	30,496	1,300,000
19	Kwale	Kwale	Coastal Kenya	8,270	900,000
20	Laikipia	Rumuruti	Central Kenya	9,462	620,000
21	Lamu	Lamu	Coastal Kenya	6,273	160,000
22	Machakos	Machakos	Eastern Kenya	5,953	1,500,000
23	Makueni	Wote	Eastern Kenya	8,034	1,050,000
24	Mandera	Mandera	Northeastern Kenya	25,798	1,100,000
25	Marsabit	Marsabit	Northern Kenya	70,961	500,000
26	Meru	Meru	Eastern Kenya	6,936	1,650,000
27	Migori	Migori	Nyanza	2,586	1,200,000
28	Mombasa	Mombasa	Coastal Kenya	219	1,350,000
29	Murang'a	Murang'a	Central Kenya	2,558	1,100,000
30	Nairobi	Nairobi	Capital Region	696	5,000,000
31	Nakuru	Nakuru	Rift Valley	7,496	2,300,000
32	Nandi	Kapsabet	Rift Valley	2,884	980,000
33	Narok	Narok	Rift Valley	17,944	1,300,000
34	Nyamira	Nyamira	Nyanza	912	750,000
35	Nyandarua	Ol Kalou	Central Kenya	3,304	700,000
36	Nyeri	Nyeri	Central Kenya	2,361	820,000
37	Samburu	Maralal	Northern Kenya	20,183	380,000
38	Siaya	Siaya	Nyanza	2,530	1,050,000
39	Taita-Taveta	Voi	Coastal Kenya	17,084	400,000
40	Tana River	Hola	Coastal Kenya	35,376	350,000
41	Tharaka-Nithi	Kathwana	Eastern Kenya	2,662	430,000
42	Trans Nzoia	Kitale	Rift Valley	2,495	1,020,000
43	Turkana	Lodwar	Northern Kenya	68,680	1,000,000
44	Uasin Gishu	Eldoret	Rift Valley	3,345	1,250,000
45	Vihiga	Mbale	Western Kenya	531	620,000
46	Wajir	Wajir	Northeastern Kenya	55,841	950,000
47	West Pokot	Kapenguria	Rift Valley	9,169	700,000

Largest Counties by Area

Marsabit - 27,398 sq mi (70,961 km²)
Turkana - 26,517 sq mi (68,680 km²)
Wajir - 21,560 sq mi (55,841 km²)
Garissa - 17,056 sq mi (44,175 km²)
Tana River - 13,659 sq mi (35,376 km²)
Kitui - 11,774 sq mi (30,496 km²)
Mandera - 9,961 sq mi (25,798 km²)
Isiolo - 9,923 sq mi (25,700 km²)

Most Populous Counties

Nairobi - Population: 5,000,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Kiambu - Population: 2,600,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Nakuru - Population: 2,300,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Kakamega - Population: 2,000,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Bungoma - Population: 1,750,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Kilifi - Population: 1,650,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Meru - Population: 1,650,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Machakos - Population: 1,500,000 (Official Estimate 2025)

Smallest Counties by Area

Mombasa - 85 sq mi (219 km²)
Vihiga - 205 sq mi (531 km²)
Nairobi - 269 sq mi (696 km²)
Nyamira - 352 sq mi (912 km²)
Kisii - 508 sq mi (1,317 km²)
Kirinyaga - 571 sq mi (1,478 km²)

Counties by Regional Grouping

Capital Region: Nairobi
Central Kenya: Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Murang'a, Nyandarua, Nyeri
Coastal Kenya: Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Mombasa, Taita-Taveta, Tana River
Eastern Kenya: Embu, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Meru, Tharaka-Nithi
Northern Kenya: Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu, Turkana
Northeastern Kenya: Garissa, Mandera, Wajir
Nyanza: Homa Bay, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nyamira, Siaya
Rift Valley: Baringo, Bomet, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Kajiado, Kericho, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, West Pokot
Western Kenya: Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Vihiga

Landlocked Counties

Baringo
Bomet
Bungoma
Elgeyo-Marakwet
Embu
Garissa
Homa Bay
Isiolo
Kajiado
Kakamega
Kericho
Kiambu
Kirinyaga
Kitui
Laikipia
Machakos
Makueni
Mandera
Marsabit
Meru
Migori
Murang'a
Nairobi
Nakuru
Nandi
Narok
Nyamira
Nyandarua
Nyeri
Samburu
Siaya
Tharaka-Nithi
Trans Nzoia
Turkana
Uasin Gishu
Vihiga
Wajir
West Pokot

Counties with Coastline

Kilifi
Kwale
Lamu
Mombasa
Tana River

Counties Sharing Borders with Other Countries

Ethiopia: Marsabit, Turkana
Somalia: Garissa, Mandera, Wajir
South Sudan: Turkana
Uganda: Busia, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, West Pokot
Tanzania: Kajiado, Kwale, Migori, Narok, Taita-Taveta

Sources

World Countries and Capitals

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Kenya Counties and Capitals List