North Eastern Province (Kenya)
North Eastern Province | |
|---|---|
Location in Kenya | |
| Coordinates: 1°0′N 40°15′E / 1.000°N 40.250°E | |
| Country | Kenya |
| Capital | Garissa |
| Area | |
• Total | 127,358.5 km2 (49,173.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2009) | |
• Total | 2,310,757 |
| • Density | 18/km2 (47/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
The North Eastern Province is one of the former provinces of Kenya. It had a land area of 127,358.5 km2, with its capital at Garissa. The North Eastern Province was carved out of the then Northern Frontier District (NFD) prior to independence.
During negotiations for Kenya's independence, Britain granted administration of the NFD which included all of the North Eastern province to Kenyan nationalists despite an informal plebiscite showing the overwhelming desire of the region's population to join the newly formed Somali Republic. It is, and has historically been, mostly inhabited by Somalis.