Quick facts
Ruiru overview
Ruiru (orange) and the other large cities of Kenya
Ruiru lies in Kiambu County in Kenya at 1.15°S, 36.96°E, about 1,531 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Nairobi (UTC+3).
It is smaller than Nakuru (570,674) and larger than Eldoret (475,716). The largest city in Kenya is Nairobi with 4,397,073 people; the capital, Nairobi, has 4,397,073.
The national capital, Nairobi, is about 22 km away; the nearest large city is Juja, 8 km from Ruiru.
Kenya as a whole has a live population of 58,963,111 (+1.9% a year) and ranks #26 of 238 countries — see the Kenya population page for the full statistics and the Kenya atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Ruiru
Largest cities in Kenya
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NairobiCapital | Nairobi County | 4,397,073 |
| 2 | Kakamega | Kakamega County | 1,867,579 |
| 3 | Mombasa | Mombasa County | 1,208,333 |
| 4 | Nakuru | Nakuru County | 570,674 |
| 5 | Ruiru | Kiambu County | 490,120 |
| 6 | Eldoret | Uasin Gishu County | 475,716 |
| 7 | Kisumu | Kisumu County | 397,957 |
| 8 | Kikuyu | Kiambu County | 323,881 |
| 9 | Thika | Nairobi County | 251,407 |
| 10 | Naivasha | Nakuru County | 198,444 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ruiru?
Ruiru has about 490,120 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Ruiru the capital of Kenya?
No. The capital of Kenya is Nairobi (4,397,073 people), about 22 km away. Ruiru is the 5th largest city of the country.
How big is Ruiru compared with the rest of Kenya?
Its 490,120 residents are 0.8% of the 58,963,111 people living in Kenya today. Nairobi is larger with 4,397,073 people.
Where is Ruiru?
In Kiambu County, Kenya, at latitude -1.15 and longitude 36.96, 1,531 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Juja (8 km), Kiambu (14 km), Thika (17 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Ruiru Population 2026 — Kenya. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/kenya/ruiru/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/kenya/ruiru/">Ruiru Population 2026 — Kenya</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.