Nairobi recorded highest number of marriages in 2024 – Report

Nairobi City County recorded the highest number of registered marriages in Kenya in 2024, according to the Kenya Vital Statistics Report 2024 published by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.

The report released on Wednesday showed that a total of 5,826 marriages were registered in Nairobi in 2024, accounting for 39.6% of all registered marriages nationwide.

Other counties that reported high numbers of registered marriages were Kiambu (4,844), Machakos (4,807), Nakuru (3,819) and Uasin Gishu (3,179). 

The five counties collectively accounted for a significant share of all registered marriages in the country.

In contrast, some counties registered very few marriages. 

Wajir had only eight registered marriages, while Turkana recorded 16, Lamu had 20, Garissa had 21, and Tana River had 22. 

These counties consistently recorded ten or fewer marriages annually between 2020 and 2024.

The report also shows that the number of registered marriages across counties varied widely over the five-year period. 

In Nairobi, the number of registered marriages increased steadily from 3,796 in 2020 to 5,826 in 2024. 

Uasin Gishu experienced a notable rise, from 48 in 2020 and 33 in 2021, to over 1,000 in both 2022 and 2023. 

However, the number dropped to 766 in 2024.

Kiambu recorded fluctuations, with 1,098 marriages in 2021, rising to 1,235 in 2022, but dropping sharply to 747 in 2024. 

Machakos showed a steady increase, with 813 marriages in 2023 and 1,112 in 2024.

At the national level, the number of marriages registered increased significantly from 10,239 in 2020 to a peak of 20,600 in 2023. 

However, this number dropped in 2024, with 15,045 marriages registered by 31st December. 

The data reflects only those returns submitted to the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice by that date.

The report also analysed marriage types. 

Christian and civil marriages were the most common forms registered across the country. 

Christian marriages peaked in 2021, with 13,456 registrations, while civil marriages reached their highest point in 2023, at 7,185.

Customary and Hindu marriages remained very low throughout the five years. 

Only 11 customary marriages were registered, mainly in Kwale (8) and Kisumu (3). 

Hindu marriages totalled 18, with Nairobi and Mombasa each recording nine.

Nairobi led in both Christian and civil marriages. 

The county recorded 22,210 Christian marriages and 9,322 civil marriages between 2020 and 2024. 

Kiambu followed with 4,833 Christian marriages and Nakuru with 2,404 civil marriages. 

Uasin Gishu also recorded a high number of civil marriages, totalling 2,236.

There were also 359 marriages recorded without a stated type during the period, most of them (217) in Nairobi. 

The report attributes these to data capture errors.