According to the Kenya Vital Statistics Report 2024, released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Nairobi County recorded the highest number of officially registered marriages in the country.

The report, released on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, indicated that Nairobi registered a total of 5,826 marriages in 2024. This figure represents 39.6 per cent of all marriages formally recorded across Kenya.

“Other counties with high marriage registration numbers included Kiambu (4,844), Machakos (4,807), Nakuru (3,819), and Uasin Gishu (3,179). Together, these five counties made up a substantial portion of the nation’s registered unions,” reads the report.

On the other end of the spectrum, several counties reported very low figures. Wajir had only 8 marriages registered, while Turkana recorded 16. Lamu saw 20, Garissa 21, and Tana River had 22.

“These counties have consistently reported fewer than 10 marriages annually from 2020 to 2024,” KNBS said.

The report further highlights the variation in registered marriages across different counties over the five years. In Nairobi, for instance, there was a consistent rise, with numbers increasing from 3,796 in 2020 to 5,826 in 2024.

Uasin Gishu saw a dramatic jump, from just 48 in 2020 and 33 in 2021, the number surged past 1,000 in both 2022 and 2023 before falling to 766 in 2024. Meanwhile, Kiambu’s trend was less stable: 1,098 marriages were recorded in 2021, rising to 1,235 in 2022, before dropping sharply to 747 in 2024. Machakos, on the other hand, showed gradual growth, from 813 in 2023 to 1,112 in 2024.

National marriage records

Nationally, marriage registrations rose from 10,239 in 2020 to a peak of 20,600 in 2023. However, by December 31, 2024, the number had dropped to 15,045.

“It is important to note that these figures reflect only the data submitted to the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice by that date,” the report noted.

The report also examined the types of marriages being registered. Christian and civil marriages remained the most prevalent. Christian unions peaked in 2021, totalling 13,456, while civil marriages reached a high in 2023 with 7,185 registrations.

Customary and Hindu marriages remained relatively rare during the five years. Only 11 customary marriages were officially registered—8 in Kwale and 3 in Kisumu. Hindu marriages numbered 18, with Nairobi and Mombasa each contributing 9.

Nairobi led in both Christian and civil marriages, registering 22,210 Christian and 9,322 civil marriages from 2020 to 2024. Kiambu came second in Christian unions with 4,833, while Nakuru followed Nairobi in civil marriages with 2,404. Uasin Gishu also posted a high civil marriage count, at 2,236.

During the same period, 359 marriages were recorded without a specified type, with Nairobi accounting for the bulk—217 cases. These were attributed to data entry errors, according to the report.