Nakuru County has overtaken Kiambu as Kenya’s second-largest economy, according to the 2024 Gross County Product (GCP) report released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
The report highlights a drop in Kiambu’s performance amid rising competition.
Nakuru’s economy grew to Sh785.75 billion in 2023, contributing 5.7% to Kenya’s GDP, up from 4.9% in 2019. Meanwhile, Kiambu’s GDP stands at Sh760.82 billion, accounting for 5.6%, down from 5.7% during the same period.
Experts attribute Nakuru’s growth to investments in agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure. In contrast, Kiambu’s slight decline highlights the need for diversification and innovation to maintain its economic strength.
In real GDP terms, Kiambu remains slightly ahead, with Sh529.29 billion compared to Nakuru’s Sh509.52 billion.
Leaders in Kiambu are being urged to focus on industrialization, modernizing agriculture, and expanding infrastructure to revitalize the country’s economy.
The report also lists the top five counties by GDP, with Nairobi leading, followed by Nakuru, Kiambu, Mombasa, and Machakos. Mombasa saw the largest drop, with its GDP share falling from 5.0% to 4.8% over five years.
By Sylvia Wanjohi
