By Eldoret Leo 
A new national health analysis shows that Uasin Gishu is among the counties with relatively lower stillbirth rates in Kenya, recording 13.3 percent, according to the latest Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) report by the Ministry of Health.
The report places the county among the safer regions for childbirth when compared to several parts of the country where pregnancy outcomes remain significantly riskier.
The data shows that Uasin Gishu ranks among counties with comparatively lower stillbirth rates. Only a few counties recorded better outcomes.
- Nyamira – 8.9 percent (lowest nationally)
- Kisii – 11.2 percent
- Turkana – 11.2 percent
- Uasin Gishu – 13.3 percent
- Nyandarua – 14 percent
- Homa Bay – 14.3 percent
- Bungoma – 14.4 percent
This means that babies born in Uasin Gishu are statistically far less likely to be stillborn compared to counties with the highest rates, highlighting the county’s relatively stronger maternal health outcomes.
The contrast across the country is stark. Some counties continue to experience significantly higher stillbirth rates.
Tana River records the highest rate nationally at 33.4 percent, meaning more than one in three pregnancies ends in stillbirth.
Other counties with high rates include:
- West Pokot – 27.9 percent
- Garissa – 24.8 percent
- Lamu – 24.6 percent
- Marsabit – 23.5 percent
- Isiolo – 23.4 percent
- Vihiga – 22.5 percent
- Trans Nzoia – 22.1 percent
- Mombasa – 21.8 percent
- Meru – 21.3 percent
The data reveals wide inequalities in maternal and newborn health outcomes across Kenya’s counties.
The figures come from the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) system managed by Kenya’s Ministry of Health.
MPDSR is a national monitoring framework that tracks maternal and newborn deaths in health facilities across the country. The system collects detailed data on pregnancy outcomes, investigates causes of deaths, and identifies health system gaps that may contribute to maternal and newborn mortality.
The approach goes beyond statistics. Each death is reviewed to determine preventable factors such as delays in accessing care, lack of skilled birth attendants, or health facility challenges, with the aim of improving policy and healthcare response.
Health facility records remain one of the most reliable sources for tracking these trends. National datasets covering more than a decade show that while maternal and stillbirth rates have gradually improved in many counties, progress has slowed in recent years.
Uasin Gishu’s position at 13.3 percent places it well below the national high-risk counties and closer to the best-performing regions.
For a county known as a regional medical hub anchored by facilities such as Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, the data suggests that access to skilled health professionals and hospital-based deliveries may be contributing to better outcomes.
However, health experts caution that every stillbirth represents a preventable tragedy, and the MPDSR system continues to push counties to strengthen antenatal care, emergency obstetric services, and newborn monitoring.
