Nairobi City stands out as the wealthiest county in Kenya, contributing a significant 27.5% to the national GDP, primarily driven by sectors, such as finance, real estate, and trade. Kiambu follows as the second-most wealthiest county, contributing 5.7% to the national GDP.
Mombasa County, Kenya’s strategic maritime hub for international shipping routes, has the third largest Gross County Product (GCP), contributing 4.9% to the national GDP. Mombasa is a tourism hub, attracting millions of visitors annually due to its beautiful beaches, historical sites, and rich cultural heritage.
Mombasa is Kenya’s number one county and is home to a diverse industrial base, including manufacturing (e.g, cement and oil refineries), fishing, and agriculture. The industry employs thousands of people and significantly contributes to the regions economic development.
Nairobi’s dominance in Kenya’s GDP can be attributed to several factors that underscore its role as the country’s economic powerhouse vis-à-vis the contribution of the other counties.
Nairob is Kenya’s industrial complex, housing multiple critical industries, including manufacturing, services, and construction. Nairobi’s Eastleigh hosts one of the biggest business malls in Africa, significantly employing thousands of people, thus massivy contributing to the growth of Kenya’s GDP.
On the other hand, Kiambu’s proximity to Nairobi City makes it a vital hub of businesses and investment opportunities. It’s closeness to Nairobi facilitates easy access to markets, resources, and infrastructure.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), “the Gross County Product (GCP) is a disaggregation of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by county that shows how much each county contributes to the national economy.”
Additionally, counties with the highest population, such as Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Meru, Kakamega, Bungoma, Kisii, Nandi, and Murang’a, contributed more to the overall Gross Value Added (GVA) as compared to the rest of the counties.
The agricultural sector contributes about 21.0% to the national GDP. Meru, Nakuru, Nyandarua, Murang’a, and Kiambu are the top agricultural counties, significantly contributing to economic development.
Nairobi County is the biggest manufacturing hub, contributing 36.9% to the national GDP. Mombasa, Kiambu, Machakos, and Kilifi contributed 9.6%, 8.4%, 7.8%, and 4.6%, respectively.
