No. 66/2023-2024 
Assessing Labour Productivity for Laikipia County 
By Cecilia Naeku and Esther Irungu 
Introduction 
Laikipia County is a member of the Central Region and Economic Bloc (CEREB). The 
county is classified as a semi-arid county with aridity levels of between 30-84 per cent 
aridity levels. The land mass of Laikipia County is 8,696 km². Laikipia County has five 
sub-counties namely: Laikipia Central, Laikipia East, Laikipia North, Laikipia West, and 
Nyahururu.  
Key Highlights 
The productivity of Laikipia County is characterized by the following: 
(i) The service sector has the largest share of Gross Value Added (GVA). 
Construction dominates the industry sector while manufacturing has declined. 
The transportation and storage sub-sector dominates the services sector.  
(ii) Quality of labour requires interventions to increase literacy rates and children 
immunization rates and reduce stunting and child poverty. 
(iii) Essential infrastructure requires interventions to increase access to improved 
water and sanitation, improved housing quality electricity, and internet 
connectivity. 
(iv) The agriculture sector is the highest employer, with crop production and mixed 
farming dominating. In manufacturing, significant employment is in agro-
processing and printing. In wholesale and retail trade, employment is in the retail 
trade not in stores, stalls, and markets. 
(v) Labour productivity is highest in the industry sector while the agriculture sector 
has the least labour productivity. The construction sub-sector had the highest 
labour productivity in the industry sector while the public administration and 
defence had higher labour productivity in the services sector. 
To enhance productivity, there is a need to: 
KIPPRA Policy Brief No. 66/2023-2024     1 
(i) Build climate resilience in agriculture by increasing the uptake of crop insurance 
and using information from the early warning systems to inform crop production.  
(ii) Integrate small farmers into the dairy and leather value chains and promote 
emerging activities including poultry and agriculture.  
(iii) Invest in manufacturing to increase agro-processing and support the 
implementation of the County Aggregation Industry Park to enhance the 
productivity of the MSMEs. 
(iv) Secure the quality of future labour by implementing nutrition-sensitive social 
protection programmes and encouraging participation in the adult and continuing 
education programme. 
(v) Invest in essential infrastructure prioritizing access to internet connectivity, 
electricity, improved water and sanitation, and quality housing. 
(vi) Provide adequately equipped market spaces. 
Laikipia County Economic Performance 
Laikipia County contributes 0.9 per cent on average to the National Gross Value Added 
with an average GVA size of Ksh 67,7552 million. The GVA per capita for Laikipia County 
is Ksh 130,664.83, with an average population growth rate of 2.1 per cent and an overall 
poverty rate of 34.8 per cent. 
Laikipia County has shown a growth in GVA with an average growth rate of 5.02 per cent 
from 2013-2022, which is higher than the national average growth of 4.37 per cent as 
shown in Figure 1. The highest growth rate was experienced in 2015, while the lowest 
growth rate was experienced in 2017. 
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Figure 1: Laikipia County GVA growth rate 
14.00 12.66
12.00
10.15 9.83
10.00
7.45
8.00 6.97
5.29 5.606.00 4.75 5.104.39 4.65
3.64 3.83
4.00
1.91
2.00 0.72 0.67
0.42
0.00 -1.53
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
-2.00
First County Government Regime Second County Government Regime
-4.00 Years
Laikipia National Average
 
Data Source: KNBS 2023-Gross County Product  
Sectoral Analysis of Laikipia County GVA 
The services sector is dominant in Laikipia County with an average contribution to GVA 
of 61.06 per cent. The agriculture sector is second, contributing an average of 25.34 per 
cent to the GVA while the industry sector’s contribution is about 13.63 per cent as shown 
in Figure 2.  
Figure 2: Contribution of broad sectors to Laikipia County GVA 
100%
90%
80%
70% 57.27 60.23 58.85 60.02 56.67 59.30
68.84 66.80 61.32 61.26
60%
50%
40% 12.51
30% 13.24 13.16 13.43 13.51
14.55
15.38 14.15
12.82 13.55
20%
30.27
10% 28.7818.46 19.65 25.48 26.61
27.72 26.54 23.35 26.55
0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
First County Regime Second County Regime
Year
Agriculture Industry  Service
 
Data Source: KNBS 2023-Gross County Product  
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Contribution of Broad Sectors to County Overall GVA Growth Rate
GVA
Agriculture Sector 
The average agriculture GVA growth rate (2013-2022) for Laikipia County is 19.04 per 
cent, which is above the national average of 12.71 per cent as shown in Figure 3. 
Figure 3: Laikipia County agriculture GVA growth rate 
70.00
57.23
60.00
50.00 39.70
40.00 35.65
30.00 21.11 23.46
15.66 16.90 15.75 16.0320.00 12.748.92 9.94 12.42 10.39
10.00 4.72 5.10
0.00 -5.92 -14.08
-10.00 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
-20.00 First County Government Regime Second County Government Regime
Years
Laikipia National Average
 
Data Source: KNBS 2023-Gross County Product  
Agriculture in Laikipia County is mainly characterized by crop farming, mixed farming 
and agro-pastoral farming systems. Maize, the main staple food in the country is also the 
main food crop produced in Laikipia County. Despite this, there was a low maize 
production in 2013 and 2014, with recoveries in the subsequent years. From 2015 to 
2020, the area under production showed slight fluctuations while production in metric 
tonnes remained relatively constant (Figure 4).  
Figure 4: Maize production 
140000 40000
120000 35000
100000 30000
25000
80000
20000
60000
15000
40000 10000
20000 5000
0 0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2020
Year
Harvested Area (HA) Production (MT)
 
Data source: National Information Platform for Food and Nutrition (NIPFN)  
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Maize production (metric tonnes) Agriculture GVA Growth rate 
Area under maize production 
(hectarage)
Livestock production is an equally important economic activity in Laikipia County, here 
mixed farming, agro-pastoralism, and a smaller degree of pastoralism is practiced. The 
most common livestock kept are meat goats, sheep, and beef cattle. Dairy cattle are also 
substantive while camel rearing is also common. Poultry farming is also common and 
shows some level of diversification although indigenous chicken is the most commonly 
reared poultry type. Milk and beef have the highest economic value among the livestock 
products (Figure 5). Although the county has a significant number of livestock, marketed 
hides and skin have very low economic value indicating low integration of the livestock 
sector to the leather value chain. 
Figure 5: Livestock production statistics 
40.00 37.35 100.00
89.55
35.00 90.00
29.77
30.00 80.00
25.00 70.00
19.40
20.00 60.00
15.00 50.00
10.00 6.31 40.00
5.00 1.50 2.64 2.30 30.000.16 0.56
0.00 20.00
10.00 4.88 5.57
0.00
Broilers layers Indigenous
Livestock type chicken
Poultry type
2500.00 2154.16
2000.00
1434.86
1500.00
1000.00
500.00 257.94 362.93 178.12
45.18 91.68 7.33 6.10
0.00
Milk beef goat mutton  poultry Honey eggs hides skins
meat meat
Livestock product
 
Data source: National Information Platform for Food and Nutrition (NIPFN) 
KIPPRA Policy Brief No. 66/2023-2024     5 
Total value (ksh.million) Percentage of livestock 
Percentage of poultry
Industry Sector 
The average industry sector growth rate for Laikipia County is 13.77 per cent, which is 
above the national average of 10.58 per cent as shown in Figure 6. 
Figure 6: Laikipia County industry GVA growth rate 
25.00 20.19 18.48
20.00 16.51 14.59 15.20
15.00 12.37 11.16 12.60 11.52 9.93 10.60
11.985 11.93
8.59 9.80
10.00 6.21 5.66
5.00
0.00
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
First County Government Regime Second County Government Regime
Years
Laikipia National Average
 
Data Source: KNBS 2023-Gross County Product  
Construction dominates the industry sector as shown in Figure 7.  
 Figure 7 : contribution of industry Sectors to Industry GVA 
100%
90%
80%
70% 55.28 57.10 58.77 59.10 61.16 63.79 65.37 69.21 70.03 71.77
60%
50%
40%
16.82 16.80 14.27 13.86
30% 11.81 11.32
2.18 10.132.12 2.99 3.71 3.46 3.50 9.123.35 9.53 8.3220% 3.19 2.79 2.36
10% 25.72 23.98 23.97 23.33 23.56 21.38 21.15 18.48 17.65 17.55
0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
First County Regime Year Second County Regime
Construction Water supply; sewerage, waste management  
Data Source: KNBS 2023-Gross County Product  
Services Sector 
The average services sector growth rate is 8.96 per cent, which is below the national 
average of 11.13 per cent as shown in Figure 8. 
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Contribution of sectors to Industry GVA Industry  sector GVA growth 
rate 
Figure 8: Laikipia County services sector GVA growth rate 
18.00 16.33
15.40
16.00 14.64 14.71
13.26
14.00 13.07
11.35 10.38 11.9311.38 11.3112.00 10.21 10.21 9.79 10.39
10.00 9.09
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00 0.980.90
0.00
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
First County Government Second County Government Regime
Regime
Years
Laikipia National Average
 
Data Source: KNBS 2023-Gross County Product  
The transportation and storage sub-sector dominates the services sector with the highest 
contribution to service GVA at 22.87 per cent. The wholesale and retail sub-sector is the 
second highest contributor to services GVA at 18.13 per cent. Public administration and 
defence is third at an average of 15.62 per cent as shown in Figure 9.  
Figure 9: Contribution of service sub-sectors to the overall sector GVA 
100%
10.19 10.22 9.99 10.13 9.04 9.22 9.00 8.49 9.40 8.48
16.30 13.88 15.22 15.59 16.33 15.11 16.42 17.15 14.89 15.30
10.18
11.08 11.14 11.40 11.63 11.50 11.65 11.16 11.68 10.97
50%
20.75 23.42 21.30 20.12 20.73 22.50 23.17 23.19 25.27 28.23
18.37 18.73 18.91 18.51 18.70 18.14 17.83 18.15 17.41 16.55
0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
First County Regime Second County Regime
Year
Other service activities
Human health and social work activities
Education
Public administration and defence
Administrative and support service activities  
Data Source: KNBS 2023-Gross County Product  
KIPPRA Policy Brief No. 66/2023-2024     7 
Contribution of  sectors to service GVA
Service sector GVA growth rate 
Quantity and Quality of labour Force for Laikipia County 
Laikipia County has a total working-age population of 298,220, which is about 57.51 per 
cent of the total county population. The majority of the working-age population is youthful 
(18-34 years) at 46.32 per cent as shown in Table 1.  
Table 1: Distribution of the working-age population by age categories  
 Working age Male Female Total Percentage of total 
population working age population 
(%) 
15-17 18,916 17,488 36,404 12.21 
18 –24 31,418 32,208 63,626 21.34 
25-34 36,097 38,403 74,500 24.98 
35-64 62,481 61,209 123,690 41.48 
Total  148,912 149,308 298,220  
Data Source: KNBS (2019), Kenya Population and Health Census - KPHC 2019  
The majority of the population in Laikipia sub-counties are persons in the working age 
categories. Laikipia East has the highest percentage of persons of working age at 62.09 
per cent as shown in Table 2. 
Table 2: Sub-county distribution of working age population by age category 
Sub-county Total Working age population categories Working 
Population age 
population population 
(15-64) as a 
15-17 18 –24 25 –34 35-64 percentage 
of the total 
sub-county 
population  
Laikipia Central  95,593 6,380 10,4(18.09) 13,583 27,497 57,944 
(11.01) (23.44) (47.45) (60.62) 
Laikipia East 102,810 6,450 13,399 18,277 25,705 63,831 
(10.10) (20.99) (28.63) (40.27) (62.09) 
Laikipia North 36,183 2,648 4,663 4,608 4,992 16,991 
(15.66)  (27.57) (27.25) (29.52) (46.74) 
Laikipia West 129,260 9,497 15,392 16,792 26,498 68,179 
(13.93) (22.58) (24.63) (38.87) (52.75) 
Nyahururu 154,696 11,429 19,688 21,240 38,998 91,355 
(12.51) (21.55) (23.25) (42.69) (59.05) 
Data Source: KNBS (2019), Kenya Population and Health Census - KPHC 2019  
Laikipia County has high socioeconomic indicators that affect the quality of labour as 
reported in Table 3. However, interventions are required to increase literacy rates, 
children immunization rates, reducing stunting and child poverty.  
Table 3: Human capital indicators 
 Human capital indicators County  National average 
Literacy rate 77.60 78.41 
Pre-primary net enrolment rate (2019) 71.53 67.51 
Primary school net enrolment rate (2020) 80.20 77.72 
Secondary school net enrolment rate (2020) 59.30 54.18 
Average years of schooling (2014) 8.40 7.78 
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Percentage of children 12-23 months fully 79.30 
74.97 
vaccinated (%) 
Percentage of stunted children 12.60 19.75 
Percentage of teenage pregnancy 9.10 15.79 
Primary to secondary transition rates (2020) 88.10 86.13 
Pupil-teacher ratio (primary school) 24.00 28.28 
Food poverty headcount (%) 27.00 33.63 
Child poverty headcount (%) 35.70 42.67 
Data source: KDHS 2022, KPHC 2019, Basic Education Statistical Booklet, 2020, 2021 
KNBS Kenya Poverty Report 
Most of the essential infrastructure and capital indicators in Laikipia County are higher 
than the national average (Table 4). However, interventions are needed to increase 
access to improved water and sanitation as well as improve housing quality.  
Table 4: Essential infrastructure and capital indicators 
 Essential infrastructure County  National Average 
Indicators 
Percentage of households with 42.20 
38.52 
access to electricity (2019 Census) 
Distribution of population using thei 22.60 
18.69 
(2019 census) 
Rural Access Index (2018) 72.44 63.72 
Access to improved sanitation 42.00 59.04 
(2018) 
Access to improved water (2018) 64.20 65.33 
Financial inclusion level (2021) 83.40 81.01 
The proportion of primary schools 35.85 
27.65 
with internet 
Proportion of secondary schools 43.60 
35.13 
with functional internet 
Percentage of households by 49.64 
housing material composite- 51.71 
finished materials(adequate) (2019) 
Percentage of households using 39.80 
bank usage 38.18 
(overall)  
Percentage of households using 79.20 
mobile 78.58 
money)  
Data sources: KRB 2018, KPHC 2019, FinAccess 2021, KIHBS 2015/16, Basic 
Education Statistical Booklet, 2020 
County Employment Statistics 
The employment-to-population ratio is 69.19 per cent. The majority of those working is 
the non-youth working population (35-64 years) at 36.66 per cent while that of the youth 
(18-34 years) is 31.11 per cent. The percentage of the employed by gender is 45.90 for 
males and 46.40 for females. The unemployment rate is 7.08 per cent, with 
unemployment being slightly higher for the youth (18-34 years) at 4.37 per cent and 
those between 35-64 years at 2.49 per cent. 
The percentage of persons (5-17 years old) working is 6.36 per cent indicating that the 
county has low levels of child labour. The inactivity rate is higher for the youth (15-24 
years) at 18.75 per cent – which is expected as this age category is still schooling – while 
KIPPRA Policy Brief No. 66/2023-2024     9 
low for persons of prime-age (25-64 years) at 3.67 per cent, which indicates high labour 
utilization.  
 Table 5: Laikipia County employment statistics 
Employment statistics Youth  Non youth 
Employment to population ratio (%) 31.11 36.66 
Unemployment rate  4.37 2.49 
Percentage of persons 5–17 years 
6.36 - 
old working 
Inactivity rate 18.75 3.67 
Data Source: KNBS (2019), Kenya Population and Health Census - KPHC 2019 
Sectoral Employment  
The agriculture sector is the highest employer in Laikipia County at 63.81 per cent 
followed by the services sector at 30.26 per cent. The industry sector is third at 5.93 per 
cent as shown in Figure 10. 
Figure 10: Percentage share of employment in the broad sectors 
70.00 63.81
60.00
50.00
40.00
30.26
30.00
20.00
10.00 5.93
0.00
Agriculture Services Industry
Broad sectors
 
Data Source: KNBS (2019), Kenya Population and Health Census - KPHC 2019 
Agriculture Sector  
Crop production and mixed farming dominates the share of employment in the agriculture 
sector (Figure 11). 
KIPPRA Policy Brief No. 66/2023-2024     10 
Percentage share of employment  
Figure 11: Percentage share of employment in agriculture sub-sectors 
35
29.35
30 25.78
25
20
15
10
5.42
5 2.22
0.35
0
Crop Production Livestock Mixed Farming Fishing/fish paid farm labour
production farming
Agriculture sub-sectors
 
Data Source: KNBS (2019), Kenya Population and Health Census - KPHC 2019 
Industry Sector  
The majority of those working in the industry sector are in construction with the main sub-
sector being the construction of buildings as shown in Figure 12. 
Figure 12: Percentage share of employment in the industry sectors 
70.00 66.46
60.00
50.00
40.00 33.54
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
Construction Manufacturing
Industry sectors
 
Data Source: KNBS (2019), Kenya Population and Health Census - KPHC 2019 
A disaggregation of employment in manufacturing shows that the majority of those 
employed in the sector work in low-technology manufacturing sub-sectors such as agro-
processing and printing as shown in Figure 13. 
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Percentage share of Percenatge share of employment
employment
Figure 13 : Percentage share of employment in manufacturing sub-sectors 
60.00 53.98
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00 15.43 15.29 15.29
10.00
0.00
Food, beverages and Printing and Manufacture of wood Repair and installation
tobacco products reproduction of and products of wood of machinery and
recorded media except furniture equipment
Manufacturing sub-sectors
 
Data Source: KNBS (2019), Kenya Population and Health Census - KPHC 2019 
Services Sector  
The majority of those working in the service sector are in wholesale and retail trade, and 
repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles as shown in Figure 14. 
Figure 14: Percentage share of employment in the services sector 
Public administration, defense and compulsory
social security 0.58
Professional, scientific and technical activities 0.97
Information and communication 1.95
Financial and insurance services 2.56
Activities of househ 2.57
Human health and social work activities 2.79
Accomodation and food services 6.74
Administration and support services 9.08
Education 9.60
Other service activities 11.59
Transportation and storage services 12.11
Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor
vehicles and motorcycles 39.46
0.00 5.0010.0015.0020.0025.0030.0035.0040.0045.00
Percentage share of employment
 
Data Source: KNBS (2019), Kenya Population and Health Census - KPHC 2019 
KIPPRA Policy Brief No. 66/2023-2024     12 
Service sectors Percentage share of employment
In the wholesale and retail trade, and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, the 
majority work in the retail trade not in stores, stalls, and markets as shown in Figure 15. 
Figure 15: Percentage of persons employed in the wholesale and retail trade and 
repair of motor vehicle sub-sectors 
Wholesale of textiles, clothing and footwear 0.90
Wholesale of textile 0.90
Other specialized wholesale 1.47
Retail sale of information and
communications equipment in specialized… 2.47
Retail sale of other household equipment in
specialized stores 3.59
Retail sale via stalls and markets 5.67
Retail sale of other goods in specialized stores 9.21
Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor
vehicles and motorcycles 10.37
Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco
products 19.49
other retail sale in specialized stores 20.49
Retail trade not in stores, stalls or markets 25.45
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00
Percentage share of employment
 
Data Source: KNBS (2019), Kenya Population and Health Census - KPHC 2019 
In the transportation and storage sub-sector, the majority of those employed are in the 
urban and sub-urban passenger land transport as shown in Figure 16. 
Figure 16: Percentage share of employment in the transportation and storage sub-
sectors 
80.00 71.32
70.00
60.00
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00 12.39 10.86
10.00 5.43
0.00
other passenger land Support activities for Freight transport by Inland water transport
transport transportation road
Transportation and storage sub-sectors
 
Data Source: KNBS (2019), Kenya Population and Health Census - KPHC 2019 
KIPPRA Policy Brief No. 66/2023-2024     13 
Percentage share of Wholesale and retail trade, and repair of motor vehicle 
employment and motorcycles
Labour Productivity  
Labour productivity1 for Laikipia County is slightly lower than the national average labour 
productivity (Figure 17).  
Figure 17: Labour productivity ratios (millions) 
0.40 0.35 0.34
0.35
0.30
0.25
0.20
0.15
0.10
0.05
0.00
National Average Laikipia
County
 
Data source: Author’s computation using KNBS GCP 2023 and KCHS 2021 data 
The industry sector had the highest labour productivity followed by the services sector 
while the agriculture sector had the least labour productivity (Figure 18).  
Figure 18: Labour productivity by sectors 
1.40
1.17
1.20
1.00 0.93
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.16
0.20
0.00
Industry Services Agriculture
Broad Sectors
 
Data source: Author’s computation using KNBS GCP 2023 and KCHS 2021 data. 
Agriculture Sector  
Maize productivity as measured by yields has been fluctuating over the years. The 
average maize yield for the eight (8) years under review is 1.69MT/HA, which is moderate 
compared with other counties within the county’s aridity levels. This indicates that the 
county has potential for maize production but is facing constrains from drought and pests.  
 
1The measure used is the apparent labour productivity measured as gross value added per person employed.  
  
KIPPRA Policy Brief No. 66/2023-2024     14 
Labour productivity Labour productivity 
(millions) (millions)
Figure 19: Maize yield (MT/HA) 
3.50 3.31
3.00
2.50
1.71 1.892.00 1.82
1.39 1.49
1.50
0.88 1.05
1.00
0.50
0.00
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2020
Year
 
Data source: National Information Platform for Food and Nutrition (NIPFN) 
Industry Sector  
The construction sub-sector had the highest labour productivity in the industry sector as 
shown in Figure 20.  
Figure 20: Labour productivity by industry sub-sectors 
1.40
1.26
1.20
1.00
0.80
0.63
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
Construction Manufacturing
Industry Sectors
 
Data source: Author’s computation using KNBS GCP 2023 and KCHS 2021 data 
Services Sector  
Public administration, defence, and compulsory social security sub-sector had relatively 
higher labour productivity when compared with other sub-sectors within the services 
sector as shown in Figure 21. 
KIPPRA Policy Brief No. 66/2023-2024     15 
Labour Productivity (millions) Maize yield (MT/HA)
Figure 21: Labour productivity in services sector 
Administration and support services 0.24
Other service activities 0.32
Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor
vehicles and motorcycles 0.40
Accomodation and food services 0.48
Human health and social work activities 0.72
Education 0.89
Financial and insurance services 1.59
Information and communication 1.88
Transportation and storage services 1.89
Professional, scientific and technical activities 2.71
Public administration, defense and compulsory
social security 23.38
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00
Labour Productivity (millions)
 
Data source: Author’s computation using KNBS GCP 2023 and KCHS 2021 data 
Key Messages 
(i) The services sector is key in Laikipia County GVA. The county has potential in 
crop production but an advantage in livestock production, with high potential for 
beef and dairy farming. Despite the county having a significant number of 
livestock, marketed hides and skin have a very low economic value indicating low 
integration of the livestock sub-sector to the leather value chain. Construction 
dominates the industry sector while manufacturing has declined. The 
transportation and storage sub-sector dominates the services sector.  
(ii) The indicators of quality of labour are within national averages. However, 
interventions are required to increase literacy rates, children immunization rates, 
reducing stunting and child poverty. It is also critical to remain vigilant on persons 
of 5-17 years engaging in the labour market. 
(iii) Most of the essential infrastructure and capital indicators in the county are higher 
than the national average. However, interventions are needed to increase access 
to improved water and sanitation as well as improve housing quality. In addition 
is increasing access to electricity and internet connectivity. 
(iv) The agriculture sector is the highest employer, with crop production and mixed 
farming dominating. The majority of those working in the industry sector are in 
construction. Manufacturing also has significant employment with the majority 
employed in agro-processing and printing. The majority of those working in the 
service sector are in wholesale and retail trade with employment concentrated in 
the retail trade not in stores, stalls, and markets. 
KIPPRA Policy Brief No. 66/2023-2024     16 
Service Sectors
(v) Labour productivity in the county is slightly lower than the national average labour 
productivity. The industry sector had the highest labour productivity while the 
agriculture sector had the least labour productivity. The construction sector had 
the highest labour productivity in the industry sector while the public 
administration and defence had higher labour productivity in the services sector. 
Policy Recommendations 
(i) Build climate resilience in agriculture. This can be achieved by facilitating the 
uptake of crop insurance and optimizing the utilization of information from the 
early warning systems to inform crop production to improve agricultural 
productivity.  
(ii) Transform agriculture by developing the livestock value chain to integrate the 
small farmers into the dairy and leather value chains; and building skills for 
farmers to adopt technologies that improve productivity in emerging activities 
including poultry and agriculture.  
(iii) Encourage investments in manufacturing to support the transformation of the 
agriculture sector by engaging in agro-processing and supporting the County 
Aggregation Industry Park to enhance the productivity of the MSMEs. 
(iv) Secure the quality of future labour by implementing nutrition-sensitive social 
protection programmes to reduce child poverty and stunting. There is also a need 
to encourage participation in the adult and continuing education programme to 
improve the quality of the current labour force. 
(v) Invest in essential infrastructure prioritizing access to internet connectivity, 
electricity, improved water, sanitation as well as housing quality.  
(vi) Provide adequate market infrastructure to support wholesale and retail trading. 
Such infrastructure is to be adequately equipped with essential services. 
Acknowledgment 
The authors acknowledge the special contributions and guidance provided by Dr. Rose 
Ngugi (Executive Director, KIPPRA) throughout the entire process of preparing the 
county brief. Appreciation also goes to Fridah Njiru for the assistance in compiling data 
for the brief. 
 
 
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