Agricultural activities pushed Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to a record 5.6%, according to the new data released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
The growth was helped by neighbouring Uganda – which played as a key destination for Kenyan products, having received goods worth Ksh.126.3 billion.
Agriculture Sector Growth
The sector rebounded by 7%, after 0.3% contraction in 2021 and 2.3% in 2022.
Maize production increased to Ksh.11.3 billion from Ksh.7.9 billion, while sugarcane and milk production rose to Ksh.34.1 billion and Ksh.41 billion, respectively.
Tea production recorded Ksh.176.3 billion in 2023 from Ksh.156.7 billion in 2022 as the exports were the highest at Ksh.188.7 billion, followed by horticulture at Ksh.187.4 billion.
However, coffee earnings dropped by Ksh.7.4 billion to Ksh.19.9 billion.
The growth was heralded by an uptick in the financial sector – pushing it from the lows of 4.9% in 2022.
The financial and insurance sector grew by 16.6%, real estate by 13.3%t and transportation and storage by 10.6%.
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Petroleum products emerged as one of the country’s major imports at Ksh.606 billion.
Industrial machinery at Ksh.289.8 billion, animal and vegetable oils and fats at Ksh.139.1 billion.
Iron and Steel and unmilled wheat was valued at Ksh.120.8 billion and Ksh.93.8 billion respectively.
The 2024 Economic Survey report also indicates that fisheries and forestry grew by 19.8%.
CS Njuguna Message to Policymakers
Speaking at the launch in Nairobi on Monday, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, said the report is of “practical use to policymakers, researchers, and research institutes looking to invest in the business community.”
Uganda was Kenya’s top export destination, purchasing goods worth Ksh.126.3 billion, followed by Pakistan at Ksh.78.9 billion.
Kenya also exported goods worth Ksh.76.3 billion to the Netherlands, Ksh.69.3 billion to Tanzania, and Ksh.64.3 billion to the United States.
In addition China remained the leading source of imports with goods valued at Ksh.459 billion, followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at Ksh.411 billion.
India followed at Ksh.269.2 billion, Saudi Arabia at Ksh.145.2 billion, and Malaysia at Ksh.120.5 billion.
