The Kenyan economy expanded by 5.3 percent in the first three months of this year, up from 4.9 percent in the same period last year, according to fresh official data.
The latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report—the monetary value of all goods and services produced in the economy—shows that all sectors posted positive growth, resulting in an overall expansion of 5.3 percent.
It is the fastest first-quarter GDP growth since 2023, signalling that the economy is gathering pace after a period of sluggish performance caused by poor weather, exchange rate pressures and the high cost of living.
“In the first quarter of 2026, the economy recorded an improved performance compared to the corresponding quarter of 2025,” reads the Quarterly Gross Domestic Product report for the period between January and March this year.
GDP is computed and published by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the national statistician.
“Real GDP grew by 5.3 percent in the first quarter of 2026 compared to a growth of 4.9 percent in the corresponding quarter of 2025,” the report adds.
