Guide to Kenya’s 47 Counties: Governors, Parties, and Key Insights

Kenya’s devolved system of governance divides the nation into 47 counties, each led by a governor responsible for overseeing local development and administration. Below is an updated list of these counties, along with their codes, the current governors, and the political parties they represent:


County Codes, Governors, and Their Political Affiliations

County CodeCounty NameGovernorParty
001MombasaAbdulswamad Shariff NassirODM
002KwaleFatuma Mohamed AchaniUDA
003KilifiGideon Maitha Mung’aroODM
004Tana RiverDhadho GodhanaODM
005LamuIssa TimamyANC
006Taita-TavetaAndrew MwadimeIndependent
007GarissaNathif JamaODM
008WajirAhmed Abdullahi JiirODM
009ManderaMohamed Adan KhalifUDM
010MarsabitMohamud AliUDM
011IsioloAbdi GuyoJubilee Party
012MeruKawira MwangazaIndependent
013Tharaka NithiOnesmus Muthomi NjukiUDA
014EmbuCecily MbarireUDA
015KituiJulius MalombeWiper (WDP)
016MachakosWavinya NdetiWiper (WDP)
017MakueniMutula KilonzoWiper (WDP)
018NyandaruaMoses Badilisha KiarieUDA
019NyeriEdward Mutahi KahigaUDA
020KirinyagaAnne Mumbi WaiguruUDA
021Murang’aIrungu Kang’ataUDA
022KiambuKimani WamatangiUDA
023TurkanaJeremiah LomurkaiODM
024West PokotSimon KachapinUDA
025SamburuJonathan Lati LeleliitUDA
026Trans-NzoiaGeorge NatembeyaDAP-K
027Uasin GishuJonathan BiiUDA
028Elgeyo-MarakwetWesley RotichUDA
029NandiStephen SangUDA
030BaringoBenjamin CheboiUDA
031LaikipiaJoshua IrunguUDA
032NakuruSusan KihikaUDA
033NarokPatrick NtutuUDA
034KajiadoJoseph Jama Ole LenkuODM
035KerichoDr. Erick Kipkoech MutaiUDA
036BometHillary BarchokUDA
037KakamegaFernandes Odinga BarasaODM
038VihigaDr. Wilber OttichiloODM
039BungomaKenneth LusakaFORD Kenya
040BusiaPaul OtuomaODM
041SiayaJames OrengoODM
042KisumuPeter Anyang’ Nyong’oODM
043Homa BayGladys WangaODM
044MigoriOchilo AyackoODM
045KisiiSimba AratiODM
046NyamiraAmos Kimwomi NyariboUPA
047NairobiSakaja JohnsonUDA

A Notable Milestone for Women in Leadership

The August 2022 General Election marked a turning point for gender equality in Kenyan politics. Seven women were elected as governors, a significant increase from the previous two in the 2017 election. These trailblazing women include:

  • Susan Kihika (Nakuru)
  • Fatuma Achani (Kwale)
  • Kawira Mwangaza (Meru)
  • Cecily Mbarire (Embu)
  • Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos)
  • Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay)
  • Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga)

This progress underscores the growing recognition of women’s leadership in Kenya. Find out How to Send Money from Tanzania to Kenya Using Halotel


Regional Groupings of Counties

For administrative and developmental purposes, Kenya’s counties are grouped into eight regions:

  1. Coast
  2. Eastern
  3. North Eastern
  4. Nyanza
  5. Rift Valley
  6. Central
  7. Western
  8. Nairobi

Kenya’s county system remains a cornerstone of the nation’s governance, fostering local representation and progress while highlighting strides in gender equality and political diversity.