OBJECTIVES: Knowledge of family planning methods is prerequisite for making an informed choice to initiate contraceptive use. This could also help the couple to delay or avoid unplanned pregnancy. The objective of the study was to establish the knowledge and use of various modern family planning methods among married women in western Kenya. METHODS: A household baseline survey was carried out in two provinces in western Kenya e.g. Nyanza and Western in which 1201 currently married women were interviewed on the type of family planning methods known and currently being used. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 16.0 in which cross-tabulations were generated, charts created; interpretation and implication of the results were made.  RESULTS: The study showed that slightly more than half i.e.  58% (702/1201) of the respondents knew and were currently using about 11 family planning methods. The injectables 89% (628/702), pills 79% 9551/702) and implants 58% (432/702) were the most widely known and used methods. The least known and used family planning methods included; spermicides 1% (9/702), Diaphragm 2% (16/701) and vasectomy 4% (34/668) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of family planning methods is a prerequisite for making a decision to start contraceptive use. Most emphasis is placed on women because they have the greatest level of exposure to the risk of pregnancy and most methods of contraception are designed for them. Even though the study did not ask the respondents to state their preferred family planning methods in future ,similar surveys indicate that the above three widely used methods  are  still the most preferred family planning methods in   future among women of reproductive age.