On 16 July 2009, the province was sub-divided into three: Lower Eastern with Machakos as headquarters, Central Eastern with Embu as headquarters, and Upper Eastern with Marsabit as headquarters; however, those changes never took effect due to the political wrangles in the Kenyan coalition government at the time.

As of March 2013 after the Kenyan general election, 2013, the Eastern Province was subdivided into eight counties, namely: The province was principally inhabited by the Meru, Kamba, Embu, and several pastoralist communities.

[2] In terms of area, it was the second largest province at (140,698.6 km2) in Kenya.

Eastern Province of Kenya includes the Chalbi Desert, Mount Kenya, and the eastern half of Lake Turkana.

Its most important permanent river is Ewaso Ng'iro.