Figure 2-6 – Gross County Product per Capita, 2017 (in KES

Figure 2-6 – Gross County Product per Capita, 2017 (in KES)

Source: Data from KNBS, Gross County Product Report (2019)

Economic Profile

The SEKEB economic bloc contributed towards just 5.7% of national output in 2017, with a combined GCP of approximately KES 4.35 billion, despite representing 13% of Kenya’s total land area. Over half of SEKEB’s economic activity is driven by the County of Machakos, which represents the fifth largest economy in Kenya. This is largely due to Machakos’ close proximity to Nairobi, which creates spill over effects that contribute to driving the County’s economy. By contrast, Kitui and Makueni’s economies are both equally small contributors to the national economy, with each accounting for 1.4% of national GVA.

Makueni County’s economy can still be considered small, even after factoring in the County’s size. Makueni’s GCP per capita was significantly lower than the national average in 2019, at KES 104,161, compared to KES 161,499 nationally. The SEKEB economic bloc demonstrates a relatively un-diverse economic output. Agriculture is the engine that drives the economies of SEKEB, accounting for 33% of the bloc’s GCP and it is the single largest employer across all the counties. Focusing on Makueni County’s internal economy, GCP analysis reveals some slight differences with the SEKEB average. Agriculture, forestry and fishing vastly dominates the economic output of Makueni County, accounting for 47% of County GCP. This is significantly higher than the SEKEB average (37%), but also higher than any other County in the region. However, as with the other SEKEB counties, Makueni’s agriculture sector remains uncompetitive compared with the rest of Kenya – accounting for just 1.7% of national GVA for the sector. This suggests that the agriculture sector is less productive here, as well as a relative lack of value addition, and therefore accounts for a smaller share of national GVA.

Manufacturing, with a total output of KES 412 million in 2017, accounts for less than 1% of Makueni’s economy. In contrast, Machakos is the manufacturing hub of the region, accounting for 98% of the bloc’s output. However, both the Makueni County CIDP and CSP detail an aspiration to enhance the competitiveness and diversity of its manufacturing sector. The education sector is also well represented in Makueni (9%), as with Kitui (11%). This is likely to be reflective of the two SEKU campuses situated in the County, as well as the University of Nairobi research centre at Kibwezi.