Africa-Press – Kenya. Kenya’s economic growth slowed to 4.7 per cent in 2024, compared to 5.7 per cent recorded in the previous year.
A report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), released on May 6, 2025, shows that the slower pace was largely driven by weaker performance in agriculture and service sectors such as financial services, insurance, and transportation.
The country’s nominal GDP—the value of all goods and services produced—rose from Sh15 trillion in 2023 to Sh16.22 trillion in 2024.
The agriculture sector’s contribution to GDP increased from 21.5 per cent in 2023 to 22.5 per cent in 2024.
Other key sectors contributing significantly to the economy in 2024 were; Transportation and storage (12.7 per cent), Real estate (8.4 per cent), Financial and insurance activities (7.9 per cent), Wholesale and retail trade; repairs (7.5 per cent), Manufacturing (7.3 per cent), Construction (6.3 per cent) and Public administration and defence (5.0 per cent).
According to the 2025 KNBS report, Kenya’s GDP growth fell below the East African Community (EAC) average of 5.4 per cent, which had risen slightly from 5.3 per cent in 2023.
In absolute terms, Kenya’s real GDP increased from a revised total of Sh10.4 trillion in 2023 to Sh10.9 trillion in 2024, resulting in an overall growth rate of 4.7 per cent compared to 5.7 per cent in 2023.
The EAC’s growth was mainly driven by strong performances in agriculture, services, and manufacturing sectors, alongside increased foreign direct investment.
Tanzania’s economy grew by 5.4 per cent in 2024, up from 5.1 per cent in 2023, mainly due to robust industrial activity and infrastructure investments.
Uganda recorded a significant uptick in GDP growth to 5.9 per cent in 2024, up from 4.6 per cent in 2023, propelled by advancements in oil sector developments and public infrastructure projects.
However, Rwanda’s growth slowed to 7.0 per cent in 2024, down from 8.2 per cent in 2023, reflecting a moderation after previous rapid expansion.
Burundi’s economy decelerated to 2.2 per cent in 2024, compared to 2.7 per cent growth in 2023, hampered by political uncertainties and limited investment inflows.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) saw its growth slow to 4.7 per cent in 2024, down from 8.4 per cent in 2023, largely due to fluctuations in commodity prices that negatively impacted the mining sector.
South Sudan’s real GDP contracted sharply by 26.4 per cent in 2024, compared to 2.5 per cent growth in 2023, mainly due to internal conflicts that disrupted oil production and exports.
“The bloc also benefited from favourable global commodity prices and a rebound in tourism, contributing to the overall economic expansion,” KNBS states in the report.
Inflation across the bloc eased to 4.4 per cent in 2024, down from 6.7 per cent in 2023, while the current account deficit as a percentage of GDP narrowed to 5.1 per cent in 2024, compared to 5.6 per cent in 2023.
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