Uasin Gishu County

Introduction

Uasin Gishu County had a total population of 1,282,000 in 2024. According to the Population and Housing Census 2019, the county had 1,163,186 people, comprising 304,943 households. The average household size in the county was 3.8 people per household in 2019.

Uasin Gishu has a total land area of 3,392.2 square kilometers and a population density of 343 people per square kilometer.

Uasin Gishu County has six sub-counties: Ainabkoi, Kapseret, Kesses, Moiben, Soy, and Turbo.

Uasin Gishu is bordered to the North by Trans Nzoia, to the East by Elgeyo Marakwet, to the South East by Kericho and Baringo, to the South by Nandi, and to the West by Kakamega County. 

Uasin Gishu County Economy

Uasin Gishu County had an average Gross County Product at current prices of Ksh 295.7 billion between 2018 and 2022, representing an average county contribution to Gross Value Added of 2.4% during the same period.

The county's average contribution to agriculture, forestry, and fishing activities was 2.5%, while its contribution to manufacturing activities was 1.4%. Uasin Gishu County’s average contribution to service activities was 2.6%.

Uasin Gishu County had a Gross County Product per capita of Ksh 239,905 in 2022.

Uasin Gishu County Poverty Rates

Uasin Gishu County had an overall headcount poverty rate of 39.9%, representing an estimated 492,000 people who lived in poverty in 2022. The overall headcount poverty rate in Kenya during the same year was 39.8%.

Uasin Gishu had a hardcore poverty rate of 6.3%, with an estimated 78,000 people living in extreme poverty in 2022. The national hardcore poverty rate in the same year was 7.1%.

Uasin Gishu County also had a food poverty rate of 35.3%, with roughly 436,000 people living in food poverty. In Kenya, the food poverty rate in 2022 was 31.7%. 

The map below shows the distribution of poverty by Constituency in Uasin Gishu County in 2019: Ainabkoi 34.5%, Kapseret 34.8%, Kesses 36.2%, Moiben 26.6%, Soy 8.6%, and Turbo 35.5%.

In 2022, the mean monthly food and non-food expenditures in Uasin Gishu County were Ksh 4,153 and Ksh 4,467, respectively. The overall share spent on food was 54.6%, while the share spent on non-food items was 45.4%. 

The major food source consumed in Uasin Gishu County was purchase or stock 84.7%, own production 12.1%, and gifts 3.2%.

In 2021, the mean and median per adult equivalent consumption expenditure were Ksh 6,669 and Ksh 5,755, respectively. 

Uasin Gishu County Demographics

Uasin Gishu County had a population of 1,163,186 in 2019, comprising 580,269 males, 582,889 females, and 28 intersex. Uasin Gishu had a median age of 19 years in 2019. The table below shows the population distribution in Uasin Gishu County by sub-county and sex in 2019. 

Marital Status

The percent distribution of women aged 12 and above in Uasin Gishu County who were never married in 2019 was 45%, while those who were in monogamous marriages was 47%; on the other hand, women in polygamous unions in the county were 1.7%, and the widowed were 3.6%. The distribution of the divorced and separated in Uasin Gishu County was 0.5% and 2.0% in 2019.

Among men aged 12 and above, those who were never married accounted for 50.3%, while those in monogamous marriages accounted for 45.7% in 2019. On the other hand, the share of men in polygamous unions was 1.6%, while the widowed were 0.6%. The distribution of the divorced and separated in Uasin Gishu County was 0.3% and 1.3% in 2019.

According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022, the median age at first marriage among women aged 25-49 in 2022 was 22 years. On the other hand, the median age at first marriage among men aged 30-54 in Uasin Gishu County was 26.7 years.

Polygyny

According to KDHS 2022, the percent distribution of married women aged 15-49 in Uasin Gishu County who had one or more co-wives was 5.7%, while those without co-wives were 89.1%.

Among married men aged 15-49 in Uasin Gishu County, those with more than two wives were 1.3%, while those with only one wife were 98.7%.

Marriage Registration

The percentage of currently married women aged 15-49 in Uasin Gishu County whose marriage was registered with the civil authorities in 2022 was 24.6%. Those whose marriage was registered with civil authorities and had a marriage certificate were 21.7%.

Teenage Marriages

The proportion of married males aged 12-15 in Uasin Gishu County was 3.2% in 2019. Similarly, the proportion of married females aged 12-15 in the county was 3.2%. Among females aged 12-18, those who were married in Uasin Gishu was 4%.

The rate of teenage pregnancies in Uasin Gishu County, comprising of women aged 15-19 who have ever been pregnant, was 10.7% in 2022.

Total Fertility Rate

Uasin Gishu County had a Total Fertility Rate of 3 births per woman in 2019, a 35.8% decline from 4.7 births per woman in 2009. The national TFR during the same period was 3.4 births per woman in 2019, a 28.6% decline from 4.8 births per woman in 2009.

The total youth fertility rate of women aged 15-24 in Uasin Gishu County was 0.9 births per woman in 2019. The national youth fertility rate was 1 birth per woman.

Uasin Gishu County had a Crude Birth Rate of 26.5 births per 1,000 population in 2019, a 37.6% decline from 42.4 births per 1,000 population in 2009. Kenya's Crude Birth Rate in 2019 was 27.9 births per 1,000 population in 2019, a 27.2% decrease from 38.4 births per 1,000 population in 2009.

Place of Birth and Notification Status

The share of recent births in Uasin Gishu County in a health facility in 2019 was 92.8%, while those in non-health facilities were 7.1%. In Kenya, 85.8% of recent births occurred in health facilities, while those that did not were 14%.

The share of recent births in Uasin Gishu County that were notified was 93.8%, while those that were not notified were 6%. Nationally, 90.4% of recent births in Kenya were notified, while 9.3% were not notified.

Place of Death and Notification Status

In 2019, 64% of deaths in Uasin Gishu County occurred in a health facility, while 35.6% occurred in the community. In Kenya, 59% of deaths in 2019 occurred in a health facility, while 40% did not occur in a health facility.

The share of deaths in Uasin Gishu County that were notified in 2019 was 92.8%. Overall, the share of deaths that were notified in Kenya in 2019 was 85.6%.

Uasin Gishu County Crude Death Rate (CDR) was 11.5 deaths per 1,000 population in 2019. Overall, Kenya had a Crude Death Rate of 10.5%.

Religious Affiliation

The majority of Uasin Gishu County residents are Protestants 521,093, followed by Catholics 250,572, and members of Evangelical Churches 222,364.

Development in Uasin Gishu County

1. The Rural Access Index (RAI) in Uasin Gishu County was 60%, representing the percentage of the population living within two kilometers of an all-weather road in 2019.
2. Household access to electricity in Uasin Gishu County was 63.9% in 2019, up from 27.9% in 2009.
3. Household access to improved sanitation in Uasin Gishu County was 90.6% in 2019, up from 78.6% in 2009.
4. Household access to safe drinking water in Uasin Gishu County was 82% in 2019, up from 77.3% in 2009.
5. The share of households accessing piped water in Uasin Gishu County was 29.7% in 2019, down from 32.4% in 2009.
6. Uasin Gishu had 97% of its public primary schools connected to electricity, ranking 21^st nationally in 2019.

The share of the population in Uasin Gishu County owning mobile phones in 2019 was 51.4%. Among women, 85.9% owned any type of mobile phone in Uasin Gishu County in 2022, while 56.5% owned a smartphone.

Among men, 85.3% in Uasin Gishu owned any kind of mobile phone in 2022, while 61.9% owned a smartphone. The percentage of men and women who had used a mobile phone for financial transactions in the year preceding the 2022 KDHS survey was 93.2% and 84.1%, respectively^.

Uasin Gishu County Finance

In the financial year (FY) 2023/24, Uasin Gishu County approved a supplementary budget of Ksh 13.29 billion, comprising Ksh 5.16 billion (38.9%) and Ksh 8.12 billion (61.1%) allocation for development and recurrent expenditures, respectively.

The budget estimates represented an increase of 12.4% compared to the previous year when it was Ksh 11.8 billion and comprised Ksh 4.51 billion for development and Ksh 7.31 billion for recurrent expenditures.

Uasin Gishu County Revenue Performance

The main sources of revenue for Uasin Gishu County in FY 2023/2024 included:

• Equitable share – Ksh 7.8 billion
• Conditional grants and additional allocations – Ksh 992.9 million 
• Own Source Revenue – Ksh 1.4 billion
• Cash balances – Ksh 1.5 billion

Own Source Revenue in Uasin Gishu County

Uasin Gishu County generated a total of Ksh 1.4 billion from local sources of revenue, inclusive FIF. The major sources of revenue included:

• Proceeds of land sales – Ksh 399.1 million (42%) 
• Business Permits – Ksh 198.0 million (21%)
• Street parking fees – Ksh 129.7 million (13%) 
• Sign Boards and Advertisements – Ksh 116.5 million (12%)
• Enclosed Bus Park Fee – Ksh 114.0 million (12%). 

Uasin Gishu County Expenditure

For recurrent expenditures, Uasin Gishu County spent Ksh 4,547,774,033 on personnel emoluments and Ksh 3,185,866,172 on operations and maintenance. For development expenditures, Uasin Gishu County spent Ksh 2,522,399,282.

The total expenditure in FY 2023/24 was Ksh 10,256,039,488.

atusTravel Expenditure in Uasin Gishu County

In the FY 2023/24 Uasin Gishu County spent Ksh 299,820,000 on Domestic travel and Ksh 28,050,000 on foreign travel. The total expenditure on travel in Uasin Gishu was Ksh 327,870,000.

Pending Bills in Uasin Gishu County

At the end of FY 2023/24, Uasin Gishu County settled pending bills amounting to Ksh 188.1 million, which consisted of Ksh 173.1 million and Ksh 15 million for recurrent expenditures and development programs, respectively.

Therefore, as of the end of FY 2023/24, Uasin Gishu had an outstanding pending bill of Ksh 751.8 million.

Uasin Gishu County MCA Sitting Allowance

The average sitting allowance for Members of the County Assembly in Uasin Gishu was Ksh 58,693 compared to the national average of Ksh 59,508.

See Also

1. Elgeyo Marakwet County
2. Nandi County
3. Kericho County
4. Bomet County 

References

1. KNBS. (2022). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Analytical report on population projections (Vol. XVI, pp. 23-25).
2. KNBS. (2022). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Population by county and subcounty (Vol. I, p. 7).
3. KNBS. (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Population by county and subcounty (Vol. I, p. 9).
4. KNBS. (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Population by county and subcounty (Vol. I, p. 10).
5. KNBS. (2023). 2023 Gross County Product: Measuring the economic evolution of counties (pp. 8-10).
6. KNBS. (2023). 2023 Gross County Product: Measuring the economic evolution of counties (pp. 15-21).
7. KNBS. (2023). The Kenya Poverty Report: Based on the 2021 Kenya Continuous Household Survey (pp. 35-47).
8. Commission on Revenue Allocation. (2022). Kenya County Factsheet (3rd ed., p. 120).
9. KNBS. (2023). The Kenya Poverty Report: Based on the 2021 Kenya Continuous Household Survey (pp. 27-31).
10. KNBS. (2022). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Analytical report on fertility and nuptiality (Vol. VI, pp. 14-19).
11. KNBS and ICF. 2023. Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022: Volume 1. Nairobi, Kenya, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: KNBS and ICF. (p. 143).
12. KNBS and ICF. 2023. Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022: Volume 1. Nairobi, Kenya, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: KNBS and ICF. (pp. 137-140).
13. KNBS and ICF. 2023. Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022: Volume 1. Nairobi, Kenya, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: KNBS and ICF. (pp. 135-136).
14. KNBS. (2022). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Analytical report on fertility and nuptiality (Vol. VI, pp. 19-21).
15. KNBS and ICF. 2023. Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022: Volume 1. Nairobi, Kenya, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: KNBS and ICF. (pp. 169-170).
16. KNBS. (2022). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Analytical report on fertility and nuptiality (Vol. VI, pp. 34-42).
17. KNBS. (2022). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Analytical report on fertility and nuptiality (Vol. VI, pp. 43-46).
18. KNBS. (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Distribution of population by socioeconomic status (Vol. IV, p. 422).
19. Commission on Revenue Allocation. (2022). Kenya County Factsheet (3rd ed., p. 120).