| Central Province | |
| Native Name: | Mkoa wa Kati |
| Native Name Lang: | sw |
| Settlement Type: | Former Province |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Kenya |
| Subdivision Type1: | No. of Counties |
| Subdivision Name1: | 5 |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Nyeri |
| Area Total Km2: | 13,199 |
| Population As Of: | 2009 |
| Population Total: | 4,383,743 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | EAT |
| Utc Offset: | +3 |
| Coordinates: | -0.75°N 37°W |
The Central Province (Swahili: Kati,) was a region in central Kenya until 2013, when Kenya's provinces were replaced by a system of counties. It covered an area of 11449km2 and was located to the north of Nairobi and west of Mount Kenya (see maps). The province had 4,383,743[1] inhabitants according to the 2009 census. The provincial headquarters was Nyeri.
Central Province was the ancestral home of the Gikuyu people.[2]
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 (the long rains) and a second during October and November (the short rains).
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 (wilaya'at) until 2007:[3]
| District | Population | Capital | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nyandarua | 479,902 | Ol Kalou | |
| Nyeri | 661,156 | ||
| Kirinyaga | 457,105 | Kerugoya | |
| Maragua | 387,969 | Maragua | |
| Murang'a | 348,304 | Murang'a | |
| Thika | 645,713 | Thika | |
| Kiambu | 744,010 | Kiambu | |
| Code | County | Former Province | Area (km2) | Population Census 2009 | Capital | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Central | 3,107.7 | 596,268 | Ol Kalou | ||
| 19 | Central | 2,361.0 | 693,558 | Nyeri | ||
| 20 | Central | 1,205.4 | 528,054 | Kerugoya / Kutus | ||
| 21 | Central | 2,325.8 | 942,581 | Murang'a | ||
| 22 | Central | 2,449.2 | 1,623,282 | Kiambu | ||
| Totals | 11,449.1 | 4,383,743 | - |
Several new districts (declared sub-counties in 2013) were created in 2007:[3]
| District | Capital |
|---|---|
| Gatanga | |
| Gatundu | Gatundu |
| Gatundu North | Kamwangi |
| Githunguri | Githunguri |
| Kabete | Kikuyu |
| Kandara | Kandara |
| Kiambu East (Kiambaa) | Kiambu |
| Limuru | |
| Kieni East | Chaka |
| Kieni West | Mweiga |
| Kigumo | Kigumo |
| Kinangop | Engineer |
| Kirinyaga Central | Kerugoya |
| Kirinyaga East | Kianyaga |
| Kirinyaga South | Wanguru |
| Kirinyaga West | Baricho |
| Lari | Lari |
| Maragua | |
| Mathioya | Kiria-ini |
| Mathira East | Karatina |
| Mathira West | Kaiyaba |
| Mirangini | Mirangini |
| Mukurweini | Mukurweini |
| Murang'a North | Murang'a |
| Murang'a South | Kenol |
| Nyandarua Central | Ol Kalou |
| Nyandarua North | Ndaragwa |
| Nyandarua South | Njambini |
| Nyandarua West | Ol Jororok |
| Nyeri Central | Nyeri |
| Nyeri South | Othaya |
| Ruiru | Ruiru |
| Tetu | Wamagana |
| Thika East | Gatuanyaga |
| Thika West | Thika |
The province is inhabited by the Kikuyu speaking community almost exclusively.[4] [5] 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.
Gitugi