Africa Economy

After the costly drought and political uncertainty of 2017, in 2018 the Kenyan economy appears to have stabilised on an upward trajectory, with most forecasts seeing a more robust expansion of economic activity. However, a structural fiscal deficit and ballooning public debt continue to pose significant challenges. Consequently, an increased...

As the largest economy in the EAC and COMESA in terms of GDP, Kenya has positioned itself as a major economic power in the region and across sub-Saharan Africa. Traditionally a largely agrarian economy, Kenya has quickly entrenched its position as a manufacturing, logistical and technology hub in the region. As a market-based economy with a supportive domestic policy...

Averaging 5% per year over the past decade, according to the most recent figures from the IMF, Kenya’s economic growth has been impressive. Revenue growth, however, has followed a more volatile trajectory and has often failed to meet government projections. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) collected some KSh656.9bn ($6.4bn) in tax revenue in the second half of 2017, a figure...

Kenya’s political system rests heavily on the executive branch of the government, with the president holding significant influence on the configuration and operation of the state. The 2010 constitutional reform has ushered in a number of reforms that have been widely regarded as a positive step towards a more equitable political system....

As the founding member of both the EAC and COMESA, two economic blocs accounting for approximately 145m and 400m people, respectively, Kenya has historically played an important role in politics and integration efforts in the region. As part of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP), exports from Kenya benefit from a range...

Decades of growth in trade and foreign investment have seen the economies of the world become more interconnected and interdependent than ever before. The production of goods and, increasingly, the provision of services has become fractured across borders as corporations create and integrate into regional and global value chains – a process...