Kenya’s economy remained resilient despite significant challenges, recording a growth of 5.1% during the review period, compared with 4.9% cent in the second quarter of 2025.
The growth was mainly supported by growths in a number of sectors. Notably, the Transportation and Storage sector grew by 4.4% in the quarter under review compared to 3.3% growth in the second quarter of 2025.
Other sectors that recorded notable growths include Accommodation & Food service activities 7.4%, Electricity and Water Supply 7.7%, Information & Communication 7.2%. Financial & Insurance 6.1%, and Construction 6.0%.
According to a Second Quarter 2026 Report by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics(KNBS), the second quarter of 2026 was characterised by disruptions and uncertainty in the global energy market and the early cessation of the long rains.
Consequently, the average price of crude oil increased from US$67.44 per barrel in the second quarter of 2025 to US$104.45 per barrel in the review period.
Kenya’s growth sectors
In addition, Kenya’s Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sectors expanded by 3.5% in the second quarter of 2026 compared to 4.0% growth in the similar quarter of 2025.
This growth was partly attributed to unfavourable weather conditions, which affected crop production.
The early cessation of the March–May long rains in May 2026, particularly during the critical stages of crop development, resulted in the downward revisions of expected crop production.
The sector’s performance was however supported by notable growth in production of tea, coffee, vegetables, sugarcane and cut flowers during the quarter under review.
Tea production grew by 11.1 per cent from 146.3 thousand metric tonnes in the second quarter of 2025 to stand at 162.6 thousand metric tonnes in the corresponding quarter of 2026.
Coffee exports rose by 10.0 per cent from 20,041.8 metric tonnes in the second quarter of 2025 to 22,046.4 metric tonnes in the second quarter of 2026.
Exports of vegetable and cut flower also increased from 13,326.8 metric tonnes and 32,953.9 metric tonnes in the second quarter of 2025 to 16,025.9 metric tonnes and 33,105.8 metric, respectively, in the period under review.
Similarly, cane deliveries increased almost two-fold from 1,259.4 thousand metric tonnes in the second quarter of 2025 to 2,419.7 thousand metric tonnes in the period under review.
Conversely, milk intake by processors declined by 3.1 per cent, from 272.0 million litres in the second quarter of 2025 to 263.6 million litres in the review period.
Similarly, export of fruits contracted by 5.8 per cent to stand at 76,084.0 metric tonnes in the second quarter of 2026.
Production of galvanised sheets increased by 19.7 per cent from 77,186.1 metric tonnes in the second quarter of 2025 to 92,424.0 metric tonnes in the quarter under review.
Cement production grew by 10.5 per cent to stand at 2,729.7 thousand metric tonnes in the second quarter of 2026 from 2,469.7 thousand metric tonnes in the corresponding quarter of 2025.
Activities in the food manufacturing subsector on the other hand recorded mixed performance during the quarter under review. Sugar production recovered strongly, increasing two-fold from 107.3 thousand metric tonnes in the second quarter of 2025 to 211.8 thousand metric tonnes in the quarter under review.
Production of soft drinks increased by 15.6 per cent from 150.6 million litres in the second quarter of 2025 to 174.0 million litres during the period under review. However, the volume of processed milk declined during the period under review, mainly due to reduced milk supply.
In the electricity subsector, growth was supported by increased electricity generation from renewable sources, coupled with reduced reliance on thermal generation.
Similarly, wind electricity generation grew by 13.5 per cent, from 413.8 million KWh in the second quarter of 2025 to 469.8 million KWh in the review period. Generation of electricity from thermal sources declined by 16.3 per cent from 344.4 million KWh in the second quarter of 2025 to 288.4 million KWh in the second quarter of 2026.
On the demand side, total electricity sales increased by 15.0 per cent from 3,054.9 million kWh in the second quarter of 2025 to 3,511.6 million kWh during the period under review.
Construction sector expanded by 6.0 per cent in the review period compared to a growth of 7.3 per cent in a similar quarter of 2025.
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