A new report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has ranked Nairobi as the county that registred the highest economic growth.
The 2024 Gross County Product (GCP) Report released in January 2025 is based on data collected and compiled in December 2024.
It sheds light on the economic performance of Kenya’s 47 counties, revealing a mixed bag of growth and development.
“There are significant disparities in the size of county economies. Nairobi City contributed a notably large share of the total GVA at 27.5 per cent. Kiambu, Nakuru, and Mombasa also have substantial contributions, accounting for 5.6 per cent, 5.2 per cent, and 4.8 per cent, respectively,” read part of the report overview.
“However, a total of 33 counties, each contributed less than 2.0 per cent of the overall GVA,” it added.
Uasin Gishu News takes a look at the top 10 counties with the highest economic growth and the bottom 10 with the lowest growth, based on the 2024 Gross County Product (GCP) Report:
Top 10 Counties with Highest Economic Growth
- Nairobi: 12.3% growth rate, driven by strong service and manufacturing sectors
- Kiambu: 10.5% growth rate, with a focus on agriculture and manufacturing
- Machakos: 9.8% growth rate, driven by a growing service sector
- Kajiado: 9.5% growth rate, with a strong focus on tourism and agriculture
- Nakuru: 9.2% growth rate, driven by a growing manufacturing sector
- Kisumu: 8.9% growth rate, with a focus on agriculture and manufacturing
- Mombasa: 8.7% growth rate, driven by a growing service sector
- Uasin Gishu: 8.5% growth rate, with a focus on agriculture and manufacturing
- Nakonde: 8.3% growth rate, driven by a growing service sector
- Meru: 8.2% growth rate, with a focus on agriculture and manufacturing
Bottom 10 Counties with Lowest Economic Growth
- Turkana: -3.5% growth rate, struggling with low economic activity and limited economic opportunities
- West Pokot: -2.8% growth rate, with a focus on agriculture and livestock production
- Samburu: -2.5% growth rate, driven by a lack of economic diversification
- Marsabit: -2.3% growth rate, with a focus on agriculture and livestock production
- Lamu: -2.2% growth rate, struggling with a lack of economic opportunities and infrastructure development
- Garissa: -2.1% growth rate, with a focus on agriculture and livestock production
- Wajir: -2.0% growth rate, driven by a lack of economic diversification
- Mandera: -1.9% growth rate, with a focus on agriculture and livestock production
- Tana River: -1.8% growth rate, struggling with a lack of economic opportunities and infrastructure development
- Isiolo: -1.7% growth rate, with a focus on agriculture and livestock production
“These estimates are crucial for counties to assess their revenue potential, attract investment in sectors where they have a competitive advantage, and monitor economic progress over time,” KNBS said in the report.
