- Nairobi accounted for 27.4 per cent of Kenya’s economy, making it the country’s largest county economy, according to KNBS.
- Kiambu, Nakuru, Mombasa and Meru completed the top five county economies by Gross County Product.
- Nairobi also recorded the highest Gross County Product per capita, well above the national average.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has revealed that Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Mombasa and Meru are Kenya’s five largest county economies, according to the latest Gross County Product (GCP) data.
The findings show that Nairobi County accounted for the largest share of national Gross Value Added (GVA), at 27.4 percent. The capital maintained its position as the country’s leading economic performer, recording a GCP of Ksh4.1 trillion.
Nairobi’s performance was driven mainly by wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, financial and insurance services, real estate and construction. These sectors reinforced its role as the country’s commercial and financial centre.
Kiambu ranked second with an economic output of Ksh819.8 billion, representing 5.5 percent of the national economy. Its growth was supported by manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail trade, and real estate.
Nakuru followed in third place with a GCP of Ksh771.8 billion. Agriculture remained a major pillar of its economy, complemented by manufacturing, electricity supply, construction, and distributive trade.
Mombasa recorded a GCP of Ksh711.1 billion, with economic activity concentrated in transport and storage, manufacturing, real estate, and hospitality. Its position as Kenya’s main seaport makes maritime trade, logistics, and tourism central to its economy.
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Meru completed the top five county economies with a GCP of Ksh525.8 billion, anchored largely in agriculture, trade, and construction. These five counties were the only ones to record economic outputs above Ksh500 billion.
In terms of wealth generated per resident, Nairobi also ranked first, posting a Gross County Product per capita of Ksh850, 332, almost three times the national average of Ksh309, 460. This reflects the capital’s high productivity relative to the rest of the country.
Mombasa placed second in wealth per person, with a GCP per capita of Ksh530, 747, reflecting the concentration of port operations, shipping, and tourism. Nakuru ranked third at Ksh322, 040, followed by Meru at Ksh319, 393 and Kiambu at Ksh303, 248.
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The KNBS data further showed that only a small group of counties recorded a Gross County Product per capita above the national average. This trend points to persistent regional inequalities, particularly between urbanised, diversified counties and agricultural or arid regions.
Gross County Product per capita is calculated by dividing a county’s total economic output by its population. It is used by policy planners and economists as a proxy measure of average economic productivity, living standards, and regional income distribution across the country.
By Bernard Magada
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