Cities in Kenya

Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu and the newly incorporated city of Nakuru are the four cities in Kenya; Nairobi lies in central Kenya, Mombasa on the Indian Ocean and Kisumu on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Nakuru, Eldoret, Kitale and Lamu are among the major towns.

Nairobi

Nairobi is the capital of Kenya and the main tourist hub, it’s home to the country’s major international airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). Most tours start in the capital, which also hosts numerous Kenyan businesses and more than 100 major international companies and organizations.

Nairobi skyline. Photo by Mutua Matheka

There are many tourist attractions in the capital such as, Nairobi National Park, Giraffe Centre, Bomas of Kenya, monuments, museums, nature parks and an active nightlife.

Mombasa

Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya and a regional cultural and economic hub. It has a prominent port (Kilindini Harbor), an international airport (Moi International Airport) and it is an important regional tourism center. Tourist attractions include Mombasa Old Town, Fort Jesus and the beaches on the North Coast and South Coast of Mombasa Island.

Mombasa, second largest city in Kenya

Kisumu

Kisumu is the third-largest city in Kenya and the principal city of western Kenya. It is a port town and the port, sited on the shores of Lake Victoria, is used for shipping goods destined for Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Tourist attractions include the Kisumu Museum, Kisumu Impala Sanctuary, Hippo Point and Ndere Island National Park.

Nakuru

Nakuru is the third-largest urban center in the country. Agriculture, manufacturing and tourism are the backbone of the economy of Nakuru. The town is also an important educational center. Tourist attractions include Lake Nakuru, which forms part of the Lake Nakuru National Park, Menengai Crater, the second largest surviving volcanic crater in the world and Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site.

Eldoret

Eldoret is the fifth-largest town in Kenya lying south of the Cherangani Hills, Major industries in the area include textiles, wheat, pyrethrum and corn. Eldoret is the hometown of numerous legendary Kenyan athletes who have dominated middle- and long-distance races.

Kitale

Kitale is an agricultural town situated between Mount Elgon and Cherangani Hills. The main cash crops grown in the area are sunflower, tea, coffee, Pyrethrum, maize and beans. Kitale is a market town for the local agricultural area and it is known for the Kitale Museum (the National Museum of Western Kenya) and an agroforestry center.

Saiwa Swamp National Park, which is the smallest national park in the country and home to the Sitatunga, a rare aquatic antelope is close to the town.

Lamu

Lamu is one of the oldest continually inhabited towns in Kenya. It was founded in the 14th century and contains many fine examples of Swahili architecture. There are few motorized vehicles and donkeys are used to carry goods. Lamu Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cities in Kenya – Cities, municipalities and towns of Kenya by population

Below are the most populous cities, municipalities and towns in Kenya. There are only 3 incorporated cities – Nairobi, the capital, Mombasa, the second largest city in Kenya and Kisumu however, there are numerous municipalities and towns with significant urban populations. Two of the cities, namely 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.

 City/TownStatusPopulationCounty
 Nairobi MetroMetro6,547,547Nairobi Kajiado Machakos Kiambu
1NairobiCity3,375,000Nairobi
2MombasaCity1,200,000Mombasa
3KisumuCity409,928Kisumu
4NakuruCity307,990Nakuru
5EldoretMunicipality289,380Uasin Gishu
6KehanchaMunicipality256,086Migori
7RuiruMunicipality238,858Kiambu
8KikuyuTown Council233,231Kiambu
9Kangundo-TalaTown Council218,557Machakos
10MalindiMunicipality207,253Kilifi
11NaivashaMunicipality181,966Nakuru
12KituiMunicipality155,896Kitui
13MachakosMunicipality150,041Machakos
14ThikaMunicipality139,853Kiambu
15Athi River (Mavoko)Municipality139,380Machakos
16KaruriTown Council129,934Kiambu
17NeriMunicipality125,357Nyeri
18KilifiTown Council122,899Kilifi
19GarisaTown Council119,696Garissa
20VihigaMunicipality118,696Vihiga
21MumiasMunicipality116,358Kakamega
22BometMunicipality110,963Bomet
23MoloTown Council107,806Nakuru
24NgongOther Centre107,188Kajiado
25KitaleMunicipality106,187Trans-Nzoia
26LiteinTown Council104,600Kericho
27LimuruMunicipality104,282Kiambu
28KerichoMunicipality104,282Kericho
29KimililiMunicipality94,927Bungoma
30AwasiOther Centre93,369Kisumu
31KakamegaMunicipality91,768Kakamega
32KapsabetMunicipality91,030Nandi
33MariakaniTown Council89,321Kilifi
34KiambuMunicipality88,869Kiambu
35ManderaTown Council87,692Mandera
36NyamiraTown Council84,239Nyamira
37MwingiTown Council83,803Kitui
38KisiiMunicipality83,460Kisii
39WajirOther Centre82,800Wajir
40RongoTown Council82,066Migori
41BungomaMunicipality81,151Bungoma
42AheroTown Council76,828Kisumu
43Nandi HillsTown Council73,626Trans-Nzoia
44MakuyuTown Council71,913Murang’a
45KapenguriaTown Council71,477West Pokot
46TavetaTown Council67,505Taita-Taveta
47NarokTown Council67,505Narok
48Ol KalouTown Council66,015Nyandarua
49KakumaOther Centre65,814Turkana
50WebuyeMunicipality65,280Bungoma
51MalabaTown Council63,324Busia
52Mbita PointTown Council62,974Homa Bay
53UkundaOther Centre62,529Kwale
54WundanyiOther Centre62,404Taita-Taveta
55BusiaMunicipality61,715Busia
56RunyenjesMunicipality61,604Embu
57MigoriMunicipality61,049Migori
58MalavaTown Council60,831Kakamega
59SunekaTown Council60,730Kisii
60EmbuMunicipality60,673Embu
61OgemboTown Council60,289Kisii
62Homa BayMunicipality59,844Homa Bay
63LodwarMunicipality58,218Turkana
64KitengelaOther Centre58,167Kajiado
65UtawalaTown Council57,081Siaya
66KerokaTown Council54,655Kisii
67MeruMunicipality53,627Meru
68MatuuTown Council53,144Machakos
69OyugisTown Council52,354Kisumu
70NyahururuMunicipality51,434Laikipia
71KipkelionTown Council49,939Kericho
72LuandaTown Council49,346Vihiga
73NanyukiMunicipality49,233Laikipia
74MauaMunicipality49,012Meru
75MtwapaOther Centre48,625Kilifi
76IsioloOther Centre46,128Isiolo
77Eldama RavineTown Council45,799Baringo
78VoiMunicipality45,483Taita-Taveta
79SiayaMunicipality45,353Siaya
80NyansiongoTown Council45,313Nyamira
81LondianiTown Council44,953Kericho
82Iten/TambachTown Council44,448Elgeyo-Marakwet
83ChukaMunicipality43,470Tharaka-Nithi
84MalakisiTown Council41,784Bungoma
85JujaOther Centre40,446Kiambu
86Ongata RongaiOther Centre40,178Kajiado
87BondoTown Council39,224Siaya
88MoyaleOther Centre37,387Marsabit
89MaralalTown Council35,472Samburu
90GilgilOther Centre35,293Nakuru
91NambaleTown Council34,735Busia
92TabakaTown Council34,724Kisii
93MuhoroniTown Council34,457Kisumu
94Kerugoya/KutusMunicipality34,014Kirinyaga
95UgunjaTown Council33,878Siaya
96YalaTown Council33,646Siaya
97RumurutiTown Council32,993Laikipia
98Burnt ForestTown Council32,649Uasin Gishu
99MaraguaTown Council32,315Murang’a
100Kendu BayTown Council31,699Homa Bay
Table of Cities, municipalities and towns of Kenya by population

Questions about Cities in Kenya

How Many Cities are there in Kenya?

There are four cities in Kenya. The capital Nairobi, along with Mombasa and Kisumu were the big three, before the City of Nakuru was upgraded from Municipality to city status by President Uhuru Kenyatta on December 1 2021.

What is the capital city in Kenya?

Nairobi is the capital of Kenya. You can find out more about the history of Nairobi here.

Your Comments

Which is your favorite city in Kenya? Do you have a town or other place which is special to you in Kenya, and why? Let us know about it, in the comments, below.

2 thoughts on “Cities in Kenya”

  1. thanks for this detailed list. however, more pictures would have given a clearer view of all these places.. still. great info!

    Reply

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