Kenya added approximately 716,800 new jobs in 2025, with the overwhelming majority originating from the informal sector, reinforcing the nation's continued reliance on small-scale employment despite a slight dip in GDP growth.

• 716,800 new jobs created in 2025, with 4.1 percent growth in the informal sector to 18.1 million workers.
• The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) released the 2026 Economic Survey detailing employment figures.
• While formal sector wage employment grew by 2.8 percent, the dominance of informal jobs underscores persistent structural weaknesses in the labor market.

The construction of a modern market in Iten, Kenya has significantly boosted youth employment, transforming the local economy and providing opportunities for hundreds of young people.

• The project has provided employment for hundreds of local youth, including unskilled labourers like Victor Kibet, who has learned to operate heavy machinery.
• Site management prioritises local hiring, with the majority of workers recruited from Iten and surrounding areas.
• The intensive, round-the-clock work schedule ensures steady income for workers and accelerates the delivery of the new market facility.

Kenya has launched a policy brief aimed at enhancing the role of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the nation's circular economy within the agri-food sector.

• The policy brief examines progress and persistent barriers limiting SME participation in the circular economy transition.
• Key individuals include Alice Nyaga from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and Beryl Oyier, country director at Bopinc Innovation Center.
• Identified barriers for SMEs include limited access to finance, technology, and complex regulatory requirements, despite advancements like the Sustainable Waste Management Act of 2022.

Kenya's agricultural sector's value grew to Sh1.75 trillion in 2025, despite a decrease in the production of key cash crops like tea and sugarcane. Farmers' overall earnings saw a marginal increase in the same year.

• The total value of the agricultural sector reached Sh1.75 trillion, marking a 2.8% growth.
• Tea remained the leading contributor to sector earnings, though its value fell to Sh155 billion in 2025.
• Production of staples like maize and rice saw an increase, while wheat production experienced a significant drop of 18.2%.

Motorcycle sales in Kenya more than doubled in 2025, reaching a four-year high and indicating a strong recovery in demand. The surge is attributed to a more stable Kenyan shilling and reduced interest rates on loans.

• Motorcycle sales reached 241,763 units in 2025, a significant increase from 118,308 units in the previous year.
• Key drivers identified by sellers include the shilling's stability against the US dollar and a decline in loan interest rates.
• The public transport and courier sectors, alongside individual boda boda operators, are major contributors to this increased demand, benefiting from easier access to credit and lower fuel prices.