Kenya has a population of roughly 53.7 million people,[1] with 72% living in rural and 28% living in urban areas.[2] Approximately 54% of the workforce is employed in the agricultural sector.[3] This sector together with forestry and fisheries represent roughly 34% of Kenya’s GDP.[4]
Agriculture plays a vital role in both Kenya’s rural and national economy. It provides the livelihood for a large part of the Kenyan population.[5] For the rural population, the agriculture sector directly accounts for 70% of all jobs.[6]
The top produced crops in Kenya are sugar cane, fresh cow milk, maize, potatoes and bananas.[7] Kenya’s top exported products in terms of quantity are tea, wheat bran, palm oil, avocados and sorghum.[8]
- ^ World Bank. (2020). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=KE
- ^ World Bank. (2020). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS?locations=KE
- ^ World Bank. (2019). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS?locations=KE
- ^ World Bank. (2020.) https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS?locations=KE
- ^ FAO. (2014). Country Programming Framework for Kenya Food and Agriculture Organization 2014-2017. http://www.fao.org/3/a-bp634e.pdf
- ^ Stephen D’Alessandro, Jorge Caballero, Simon Simpkin, and John Lichte. (2015). Kenya Agricultural Risk Assessment. Agriculture global practice technical assistance paper. Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/380271467998177940/pdf/100299-BRI-P148139-PUBLIC-Box393227B-Kenya-Policy-Note-web.pdf
- ^ FAOSTAT (2019). http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/commodities_by_country
- ^ FAOSTAT (2019). http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/commodities_by_country_exports
Minimum wage
The minimum wage rate in Kenya is set by the government by area, age and skill level. For agricultural workers the minimum wage varies from 7,545 Kenyan shilling (58 EUR) for an unskilled worker to 13,610 Kenyan shilling (104 EUR) for a farm clerk or foreman.[1]
Living wage
Living wages are based on the costs of a decent standard of living for a family in a specific area or region, hence living wages vary from one area to another. To date, the Global Living Wage Coalition has carried out two living wage studies in Kenya. The estimated living wage in Lake Naivasha (non-metropolitan urban Kenya) is 32,488 Kenyan shilling (253 EUR) per month[2] while the estimated living wage in Mount Kenya (rural Kenya) is 13,943 Kenyan shilling (108 EUR) per month.[3] Despite the large differences between living wage estimates, the highest minimum wage in the agricultural sector is still below both estimates. Agricultural workers are the most commonly underpaid workers in Kenya.[4]
- ^ WageIndicator Foundation. (2023). https://mywage.org/kenya/salary/minimum-wage/2230-agricultural-industry
- ^ Global Living Wage Coalition. (2022). https://www.globallivingwage.org/living-wage-benchmarks/non-metropolitan-urban-kenya/
- ^ Global Living Wage Coalition. (2016).https://www.globallivingwage.org/living-wage-benchmarks/rural-kenya/
- ^ CSR Risk Check. (2019) https://www.mvorisicochecker.nl/en/world-map
Living wage Benchmark, Mount Kenya Area 
Living wage estimate for floriculture workers to be able to afford a basic but decent liviing in the rural Mount Kenya area.
Living wage Benchmark, Lake Naivasha Area
Living wage estimate for floriculture workers to be able to afford a basic but decent liviing in the Lake Naivasha area.
Creating Shared Value in the Rose Supply Chain
The business case for a living wage rose from Naivasha in Kenya to a Dutch florist, by True Price.
Towards a Living Wage
An analysis by True Price on how to close the living wage gap of workers producing roses in Kenya, Ethiopia and Zambia.
Improving Productivity of Smallholder Coffee Farms
A program by the International Finance Corporation to increase productivity, improve coffee quality and farmers’ livelihoods in Kenya.
Kenya Decent Work Programme
The International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) main instrument for cooperation to achieve decent and secure working conditions in Kenya.