Mount Kenya region

The Mount Kenya region, sometimes referred to as the Mt Kenya region, and referred to as Mlima in the Swahili language or Murima (meaning "The Mountain" in the Kikuyu language), is a geopolitical, cultural and economic area located in the central part of Kenya. The region is mostly centered around and named for Mount Kenya, the highest mountain in Kenya and the second-highest in Africa (after Mount Kilimanjaro).

It is generally considered to consist of 10 of the 47 counties of Kenya: Nyeri, Meru, Kirinyaga, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, Kiambu, Murang'a, Laikipia, and Nyandarua, and Nakuru. The region is occasionally referred to as consisting of 9 counties, excluding Nakuru, which is sometimes considered as being either on the "periphery" of the Mount Kenya region or as belonging to the Great Rift Valley region. As of early 2026, the inclusion of Kiambu in this bloc has become a subject of political debate. A movement led by some Kiambu leaders has sought to distance the county from the "Mount Kenya" label.

As of 2025, the region has an estimated population of approximately 11.9 million people. The region's major urban centers include Nakuru City, Thika, and Ruiru.

While widely recognized in political discourse, it is not an official administrative or governmental unit under the 2010 Constitution, which recognizes only the national government and the 47 Counties of Kenya.