Nyeri County has earned national praise for its strong performance in healthcare delivery, following recognition by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). The county emerged as one of the best-performing devolved units in health indicators, thanks to expanded health infrastructure, well-trained personnel, and improved service access across its rural and urban communities.
According to KNBS, Nyeri has consistently invested in strengthening its health system, currently operating 250 health facilities with a combined bed capacity of 1,222. The facilities are staffed by a workforce of more than 1,700 health professionals who serve a population of approximately 774,000 residents. The 2019 Kenya Health Demographic Survey further highlights Nyeri’s achievement, showing the county as having the highest female life expectancy in the region at 75.5 years—nearly a decade above the national average. The report also notes significant gender disparities, with women living an average of 9.4 years longer than men.
The county’s impressive maternal and child health outcomes have also been spotlighted, with Nyeri recording the lowest maternal mortality rate in the country at 67 deaths per 100,000 live births—well within the Sustainable Development Goal 3 target. Infant mortality rates have similarly remained among the lowest nationwide at 28.3 per 1,000 live births. Health officials and local leaders have attributed the county’s success to consistent investment, community health programs, and strong partnerships with national agencies. Moving forward, Nyeri aims to further expand facility capacity and upgrade specialized services to maintain its leadership in healthcare delivery.