Central Province (Kenya)


The Central Province was a region in central Kenya until 2013. It covered an area of and was located to the north of Nairobi and west of Mt. Kenya. The province had 4,383,743 inhabitants according to the 2009 census. The provincial headquarters was Nyeri.
Central Province was the ancestral home of the gikuyu people.

Climate

The climate of Central Province is generally cooler than that of the rest of Kenya, due to the region's higher altitude. Rainfall is fairly reliable, falling in two seasons, one from early March to May and a second during October and November.

General information

Central Province is a key producer of coffee, one of Kenya's key exports. Much of Kenya's dairy industry is also based in this province. The provincial headquarters were in Nyeri. Central Province was divided into seven districts until 2007:

Counties

Districts after 2007

Several new districts were created in 2007:
DistrictCapital
GatangaGatanga
GatunduGatundu
Gatundu NorthKamwangi
GithunguriGithunguri
KabeteKikuyu
KandaraKandara
Kiambu East Kiambu
Kiambu WestLimuru
Kieni EastChaka
Kieni WestMweiga
KigumoKigumo
KinangopEngineer
Kirinyaga CentralKerugoya
Kirinyaga EastKianyaga
Kirinyaga SouthWanguru
Kirinyaga WestBaricho
LariLari
MaraguaMaragua
MathioyaKiria-ini
Mathira EastKaratina
Mathira WestKaiyaba
MiranginiMirangini
MukurweiniMukurweini
Murang'a NorthMurang'a
Murang'a SouthKenol
Nyandarua CentralOl Kalou
Nyandarua NorthNdaragwa
Nyandarua SouthNjambini
Nyandarua WestOl Jororok
Nyeri CentralNyeri
Nyeri SouthOthaya
RuiruRuiru
TetuWamagana
Thika EastGatuanyaga
Thika WestThika

History

The province is inhabited by the Kikuyu speaking community almost exclusively. They are part of the Kenya Eastern Bantu.
During Kenya's colonization by the British, much of the province was regarded as part of the 'White Highlands', for the exclusive use of the European community. Therefore, it saw political activity from the local communities who felt that they had an ancestral right to the land. This tension culminated in the 1950s with the Mau Mau rebellion; it saw the region placed under a state of emergency and the arrest of many prominent political leaders.

Villages and settlements (A-J)

Villages and settlements (K)

Villages and settlements (L-Z)