Nairobi, Mombasa, Nyeri, Nakuru, and Meru are among Kenya’s top five wealthiest counties according to new Gross County Product (GCP) data for 2024.
Findings from the Kenya Bureau of National Statistics (KNBS) show that Nairobi City County accounts for the largest share of Gross Value Added (GVA) at 27.4 percent in 2024.
It is followed by Kiambu at 5.5 percent, Nakuru at 5.2 percent, and Mombasa at 4.8 percent.
Together, these counties contributed about 42.9 percent of the national economy.
Nairobi, Kiambu Lead List of Kenya’s Top 5 Wealthiest Counties
Nairobi retained its position as the country’s economic powerhouse after recording a Gross County Product of Ksh4.1 trillion, the largest county economy in Kenya.
The capital city’s economy was largely driven by wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, financial and insurance services, real estate, and construction, underscoring its position as the country’s commercial and financial hub.
Kiambu emerged as the second-largest county economy after recording Ksh819.8 billion in output, representing 5.5 percent of the total.
The county’s economy was anchored in manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail trade, and real estate.
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Nakuru came third at Ksh771.8 billion, driven by agriculture, manufacturing, electricity supply, construction, and wholesale and retail trade.
The county continues to balance its traditional agricultural strength with a growing industrial and services sector.
Mombasa County posted a GCP of KSh 711.1 billion, with key contributions from transport and storage, wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, real estate, and accommodation and food services.
The port city’s economy remains heavily influenced by maritime trade and logistics activities.
Meru completed the list of the five largest county economies after its Gross County Product rose to Ksh525.8 billion.
GCP was supported mainly by agriculture, wholesale and retail trade, real estate, and construction. Agriculture remains the backbone of the county’s economy, complemented by steady growth in trade and service-related sectors.
Overall, the five counties recorded economies above Ksh500 billion.
Gross County Product at Current Prices 2020–2024
| County | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi City | 2.69T | 3.00T | 3.45T | 3.83T | 4.11T |
| Kiambu | 555.59Bn | 618.36Bn | 695.55Bn | 761.00Bn | 819.83Bn |
| Nakuru | 479.85Bn | 565.88Bn | 633.41Bn | 755.95Bn | 771.78Bn |
| Mombasa | 469.30Bn | 528.84Bn | 605.26Bn | 670.02Bn | 711.09Bn |
| Meru | 330.17Bn | 377.77Bn | 415.00Bn | 473.67Bn | 525.78Bn |
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Wealth per Person Revealed Across 5 Counties
At the same time, the capital posted the highest GCP per capita at Ksh850,332, nearly three times the national average of Ksh309,460.4, underlining its dominance in national wealth creation.
Mombasa ranked second, with a GCP per capita of Ksh 530,747, driven by port operations, tourism, logistics, and shipping activities.
Nakuru followed at Ksh322,040, while Meru and Kiambu recorded Ksh319,393 and Ksh303,248 respectively, completing the top five wealthiest counties.
Gross County Product per Capita 2020–2024
| County | 2020 (Ksh) | 2021 (Ksh) | 2022 (Ksh) | 2023 (Ksh) | 2024 (Ksh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi City | 594,761 | 653,376 | 739,268 | 807,184 | 850,332 |
| Mombasa | 382,140 | 421,049 | 471,410 | 510,743 | 530,747 |
| Nakuru | 217,933 | 251,446 | 275,495 | 321,974 | 322,040 |
| Meru | 210,917 | 238,248 | 258,441 | 291,311 | 319,393 |
| Kiambu | 222,149 | 242,340 | 267,288 | 286,857 | 303,248 |
The data shows that only seven counties recorded GCP per capita above the national average, highlighting widening disparities between highly urbanized counties and arid and semi-arid regions.
The Gross County Product per capita measures the average economic output generated per person within a county, derived by dividing total county output by population.
Economists use it as a key indicator of wealth levels, living standards, and regional inequality.
