Kenya’s economy expanded at a annualised rate of 5.7 percent in the first quarter of this year, compared with 4.8 percent in the same period of last year, the statistics office said on Friday.
The agriculture sector expanded by 5.2 percent, compared to one percent in the same period last year.
“The significant acceleration in growth was mainly attributable to improved weather conditions and a boost in business and consumer confidence after the conclusion of general elections in 2017,” the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) aid in a report.
The nation has had good rains this year, in contrast with drought in the first quarter of last year.
Farming, including tea and coffee exports, accounts for close to a third of economic output.
The finance ministry expects growth to rebound to 5.8 percent this year after 4.9 percent in 2017.
KNBS also reported that the current account balance narrowed from a deficit of Sh129.7 billion in the first quarter of 2017 to a deficit of Sh107.9 billion in the first quarter of 2018
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The bureau's full report is as follows:
