Kenya's economy demonstrated robust growth, expanding by 5.3 percent in the first quarter of 2026, a notable increase from 4.9 percent in the same period last year.

• Overall expansion of 5.3 percent in real GDP for January-March 2026.
• Data released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
• This marks the fastest first-quarter GDP growth since 2023, indicating an economic upswing after previous challenges.

Kenya's economy experienced a notable surge in the first quarter of 2026, growing by 5.3 percent. This expansion was primarily propelled by robust performance in key sectors.

• Manufacturing activity saw a significant acceleration, growing to 4.4 percent.
• The economic figures were released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
• Significant growth was also observed in mining and quarrying (9.1 percent) and accommodation and food services (14.7 percent), indicating a strong recovery in tourism.

The World Bank has revised Kenya's economic growth forecast downward for 2026, citing external shocks including the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

• The lender now projects Kenya's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to grow by 4.3 percent in 2026, a 0.6 percentage point reduction from its previous forecast.
• This downgrade is attributed to rising energy costs, trade disruptions, and weakened private investment due to geopolitical tensions.
• Despite the revised outlook, the World Bank noted that Kenya's macroeconomic fundamentals remain relatively resilient compared to regional peers.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) announced a significant increase in tax collections for the 2025/26 financial year, reporting a total of Sh2.84 trillion. This marks a 10.6 percent rise in revenue compared to the previous fiscal year.

• The KRA collected Sh2.84 trillion in taxes for the 2025/26 financial year.
• The manufacturing sector was the largest contributor to revenue, generating Sh462 billion.
• The tax authority has been intensifying compliance measures and digital tax administration reforms to boost domestic revenue.