Rift Valley (former province): population, poverty, health, schooling, housing and county revenue

Rift Valley (former province) is a former province of Kenya, the largest of 54 by population. Rift Valley was one of Kenya's eight provinces until the 2010 Constitution replaced them with 47 counties in 2013. Its area is now 14 counties: Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Nandi, Baringo, Laikipia, Nakuru, Narok, Kajiado, Kericho and Bomet.

In depth

• Economy, jobs and prices in Rift Valley (former province): The counties' combined output (Gross County Product) was KSh 2.66 trillion in 2022, 21.7% of the 47 counties' combined output, about KSh 195,600 per resident (all counties: KSh 242,700).
• Health in Rift Valley (former province): 27.3% of people had any health insurance in 2022 (Kenya: 26.3%).
• Poverty and living standards in Rift Valley (former province): The most populous county in the former province is Nakuru (2,445,000 in 2025); the poorest by share of people below the poverty line in 2022 was Turkana (82.7%) and the least poor Narok (26.2%).

More figures

• KNBS projects 15,899,000 people in these counties by 2030, growth of about 1.9% a year from 2025. Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (National Information Platform for Food Security and Nutrition) · saved copy
• 88.9% of women and 92.8% of men aged 15-49 could read in 2022 (Kenya: 90.9% and 93.8%). Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copy
• The CRA recommended KSh 131.0 billion of shareable revenue for these 14 county governments in 2026/27 (KSh 118.4 billion in 2025/26), about KSh 9,050 per resident. Source: Commission on Revenue Allocation · saved copy

How former provinces are governed in Kenya

Counties (47). Governor and deputy elected on a joint ticket (max two five-year terms); county assembly of members (MCAs) elected from wards plus nominated members; county executive committee nominated by the governor and approved by the assembly. Health, agriculture, county roads, pre-primary education, water, trade licensing, planning (Fourth Schedule).

Every tier of government in Kenya

Other former provinces of Kenya

• Eastern (former province) 7,464,000
• Nyanza (former province) 6,992,000
• Central (former province) 6,128,000
• Western (former province) 5,560,000
• Coast (former province) 4,912,000
• Nairobi City 4,906,000
• North Eastern (former province) 2,893,000
• Kiambu 2,754,000
• Nakuru 2,445,000
• Kakamega 2,073,000
• Bungoma 1,845,000
• Meru 1,666,000
• Kilifi 1,637,000
• Machakos 1,518,000
• Kisii 1,370,000
• Mombasa 1,368,000
• Narok 1,355,000
• Kajiado 1,328,000
• Uasin Gishu 1,307,000
• Migori 1,292,000
• Kisumu 1,290,000
• Homa Bay 1,278,000
• Kitui 1,259,000
• Murang'a 1,136,000
• Trans Nzoia 1,108,000
• Siaya 1,097,000
• Turkana 1,074,000
• Makueni 1,065,000
• Mandera 1,007,000
• Busia 1,006,000
• Kwale 988,000
• Nandi 982,000
• Kericho 980,000
• Garissa 971,000
• Bomet 965,000
• Wajir 915,000
• Nyeri 853,000
• Baringo 764,000
• Nyandarua 721,000
• West Pokot 706,000
• Nyamira 665,000
• Kirinyaga 664,000
• Embu 662,000
• Vihiga 636,000
• Laikipia 583,000
• Marsabit 539,000
• Elgeyo-Marakwet 509,000
• Tharaka-Nithi 425,000
• Taita-Taveta 373,000
• Tana River 370,000
• Samburu 367,000
• Isiolo 330,000
• Lamu 176,000

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Sources

• Commission on Revenue Allocation: Recommendation on the Basis for Equitable Sharing of Revenue between the National and County Governments for FY 2026/27, Tables 6.1 and 6.2, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 38189f669f70…)
• Commission on Revenue Allocation: Recommendation concerning the Fourth Basis for Revenue Sharing among County Governments, FY 2025/26-2029/30: Table 2-7 and Appendix I (KNBS census, poverty and Gross County Product data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 76961d1ebf71…)
• Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF): Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022, Volume 1: county tables (C tables), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 202dd70451a0…)
• Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: 2023/24 Kenya Housing Survey Basic Report: Tables 3.6, 5.10 and 5.18 by county, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 52fcb74800ea…)
• Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (National Information Platform for Food Security and Nutrition): 2019 Census Data and Projections by County (2019 census count and projections for 2020-2045), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fc7c1a52a02c…)
• Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: The Kenya Poverty Report 2022 (2022 Kenya Continuous Household Survey): Tables 3.2 and 4.6, Annex Tables A1, B1, C1 and E.2, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e3298f81209a…)

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