Eastern Province (Kenya)

Eastern Province
Province
Location in Kenya.
Country	Kenya
No. of districts:	26
Capital	Embu
Area
• Total	159,891 km2 (61,734 sq mi)
Population  (1999)
• Total	4,631,779
• Density	29/km2 (75/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)

Mount Kenya is found in the Eastern Province (capital Embu; click map to enlarge)

The Eastern Province of Kenya is one of seven regions of the country. Its northern boundary is with Ethiopia; the North Eastern Province and Coast Province lie to the east and south; and the remainder of Kenya's provinces, including Central Province, run along its western border. The provincial capital is Embu. On 16 July 2009, the province was sub-divided in to 3 Sub-Provinces namely lower eastern with Machakos as headquarters, central eastern with Meru as headquarters, and upper eastern with Marsabit as headquarters; however it still remains to be seen how these changes will take effect due to the political instability in the current coalition government. The sub-division of provinces were carried out in all seven Provinces of Kenya, excluding Nairobi.

The province is principally inhabited by the Meru and Kamba and several pastoralist communities. In 1979 its population was 2.7 million; in 1999, 4,631,779 (according to the 1999 census). In terms of area, it is the second largest province (159,891 km²).

Geography

Eastern Province of Kenya includes the Chalbi Desert, Mount Kenya, and the eastern half of Lake Turkana. The climate is arid to semi-arid. Its most important permanent river is Ewaso Ng'iro.

Districts

District (capital)

• Embu (Embu)
• Isiolo (Isiolo)
• Kitui (Kitui)
• Machakos (Machakos)
• Makueni (Wote)
• Marsabit (Marsabit)
• Mbeere (Siakago)
• Meru Central (Meru)
• Meru North ^a (Maua)
• Meru South ^b (Chuka)
• Moyale (Moyale)
• Mwingi (Mwingi)
• Tharaka (Tharaka)

^a Also known as Nyambene District.
^b Also known as Nithi District.

Districts after 2007

Several new district were created in 2007 in Kenya, also in Eastern Province :

District	Capital
Chalbi	Maikona
Embu	Embu
Garbatula	Garba Tula
Igembe	Maua
Imenti North	Meru
Imenti South	Nkubu
Isiolo	Isiolo
Kangundo	Kangundo
Kibwezi	Makueni
Kitui	Kitui
Kyuso	Kyuso
Laisamis	Korr
Machakos	Machakos
Makueni	Wote
Marsabit	Marsabit
Mbeere	Siakago
Mbooni
Meru Central	Gatimbi
Meru South (Nithi)	Chuka
Moyale	Moyale
Mutomo (Kitui South)	Mutomo
Mwala
Mwingi	Mwingi
Tharaka	Marimanti
Tigania	Urru
Yatta	Kithimani