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Global Sourcebook for International Data Management
by Graham Rhind
KENYA |
For supplementary information, see links to post office home pages here , to postal code pages here
and to other personal name and addressing issues pages here
.
Table of Contents |
51 525 600 (2023 projection) [1]
1,234.45
(where . indicates the decimal separator and , the thousands separator)
61 languages are spoken in Kenya. The geographical distribution of these languages is complex. The official languages are English (mainly spoken as a second language) and Swahili
(about 12 000 000 first- and second-language speakers). Other widely spoken languages include Bukusu
(565 000 speakers); Embu
(429 000 speakers); Gikuya
(5 347 000 speakers); Giryama
(551 000 speakers); Gusii
(1 582 000 speakers); Kalenjin
(2 248 123 speakers); Kamba
(2 448 302 speakers); Luo
(3 185 000 speakers); Luyia
(3 083 083 speakers); Maasai
(453 000 speakers) and Meru
(1 305 000 speakers).
In Kenya, the use of the Swahili Bi Mchumo for “Miss” is considered colloquial – use Bibi (“Mrs”) instead for all women.
A doctor of medicine is Daktari+family name, whilst a doctor of philosophy is Dakta+family name.
Naming conventions differ according to custom, tribe and language.
Tables of names can be acquired: given names, surnames/family names
, family name prefixes
, forms of address
, job titles
![]()
Kenyan addresses have the format:
[P.O. Box ]number{[, ]Name of post office} POSTAL CODE POSTAL TOWN
for example:
Postal addresses will usually be a post office box number and will be written in English.
Though postal deliveries are only to mailing addresses, street addresses will be found for the use of couriers, visitors etc. As not all streets are named, these may often be descriptive and unstructured, but usually written in English. Examples:
A table containing information about the relevant position of elements within address blocks can be acquired![]()
This is written PO Box.
The postal code consists of a block of 5 digits. The first digit indicates the postal region, the second and third the regional distribution centre and the final two the delivery office.
Metadata containing postal code formatting rules, exceptions and regular expressions can be acquired![]()
\A\d{5,5}\Z
n/a
Note: This section last updated 6th December 2014
Refer to Exonyms in Kenya for full lists of place names in Kenya in other languages.
Alternate place name forms/postal code tables can be acquired at http://www.grcdi.nl/settlements.htm![]()
Other language place name data can be acquired at http://www.grcdi.nl/otherlanguageplace.htm![]()
Note: This section last updated 17th September 2013
Kenya has 47 counties . They are:
BaringoBomet
Bungoma
Busia
Elgeyo Marakwet
Embu
Garissa
Homa Bay
Isiolo
Kajiado
Kakamega
Kericho
Kiambu
Kilifi
Kirinyaga
Kisii
Kisumu
Kitui
Kwale
Laikipia
Lamu
Machakos
Makueni
Mandera
Marsabit
Meru
Migori
Mombasa
Murang’a
Nairobi
Nakuru
Nandi
Narok
Nyamira
Nyandarua
Nyeri
Samburu
Siaya
Taita Taveta
Tana River
Tharaka Nithi
Trans Nzoia
Turkana
Uasin Gishu
Vihiga
Wajir
West Pokot
![]()
Note: This section last updated 9th July 2019
Kenyan geographic numbers have a full length of between 6 and 9 digits when called from abroad. Mobile numbers have 9 digits and one of these area codes: 100-102, 110-111, 700-799.
Every effort is made to keep this resource updated. If you find any errors, or have any questions or requests, please don't hesitate to contact the author.
All information copyright Graham Rhind 2025. Any information used should be acknowledged and referenced.