Embu County

Socio-Economic Status of
Embu County with COVID-19
Eldah Onsomu, Rose Ngugi, Evelyne Kihiu, Mutuku

Muleli, James Gachanja, Rogers Musamali, Paul Lutta,
Daniel Omanyo, Hellen Chemnyongoi, Shadrack
Mwatu, Nahashon Mwongera, Paul Odhiambo, Beverly
Musili, Violet Nyabaro, Japheth Kathenge, Haron
Ngeno and Elton Khaemba
KENYA INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY

RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
(KIPPRA)
The KENYA INSTITUTE for PUBLIC
POLICY RESEARCH and ANALYSIS
Thinking Policy Together
Socio-Economic Status of Embu County with
COVID-19
Eldah Onsomu, Rose Ngugi, Evelyne Kihiu, Mutuku

Muleli, James Gachanja, Rogers Musamali, Paul Lutta,
Daniel Omanyo, Hellen Chemnyongoi, Shadrack Mwatu,
Nahashon Mwongera, Paul Odhiambo, Beverly Musili,
Violet Nyabaro, Japheth Kathenge, Haron Ngeno and
Elton Khaemba
Kenya Institute for Public Policy

Research and Analysis
2022
Socio-economic status of Embu County with COVID-19
KIPPRA in Brief
The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) is an
autonomous institute whose primary mission is to conduct public policy research
leading to policy advice. KIPPRA’s mission is to produce consistently high-quality
analysis of key issues of public policy and to contribute to the achievement
of national long-term development objectives by positively influencing the
decision-making process. These goals are met through effective dissemination
of recommendations resulting from analysis and by training policy analysts in
the public sector. KIPPRA therefore produces a body of well-researched and
documented information on public policy, and in the process assists in formulating
long-term strategic perspectives. KIPPRA serves as a centralized source from
which the Government and the private sector may obtain information and advice
on public policy issues.
Published 2022
© Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis
Bishops Garden Towers, Bishops Road
PO Box 56445-00200 Nairobi, Kenya
tel: +254 20 2719933/4; fax: +254 20 2719951
email: [email protected]
website: http://www.kippra.org
The KIPPRA Special Reports Series deals with specific issues that are of policy
concern. The reports provide in-depth survey results and/or analysis of policy
issues. They are meant to help policy analysts in their research work and assist
policy makers in evaluating various policy options. Deliberate effort is made to
simplify the presentation in the reports so that issues discussed can be easily
grasped by a wide audience. KIPPRA appreciates any comments and suggestions
arising from this report.
ii
Table of Contents
Abbreviations and Acronyms................................................................................................ ix

Acknowledgements................................................................................................................. x
Executive Summary............................................................................................................... xi
1. Introduction and structure of Embu County Economy ................ 1

1.1 Introduction .....................................................................................................1
1.2 Level of socioeconomic deprivations.............................................................. 3
1.3 Structure of Embu County Economy.............................................................. 4
1.4 COVID-19 caseload and implications of mobility restrictions ...................... 4
2. Fiscal Policy .................................................................................7

2.1 County Expenditure Analysis......................................................................... 11
2.2 Key Messages ................................................................................................16
2.3 Recommendations.........................................................................................16
3. Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries..........................................18

3.1 Characteristics of the Sector.......................................................................... 18
3.2 Opportunities with COVID-19 in Agriculture Sector ................................... 29
3.3 Emerging Issues ...........................................................................................30
4. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene .................................................32

4.1 Characteristics of the Sector ......................................................................... 32
4.2 Opportunities with COVID-19 in Water and Sanitation Sectors..................40
4.3 Emerging Issues ...........................................................................................40
5. Manufacturing, Trade and MSMEs............................................ 43

5.1 Characteristics of Manufacturing Sector...................................................... 43
5.2 Emerging Issues and Constraints Faced by MSMEs.................................... 54
5.3 Opportunities with COVID-19 in Industrial Recovery and Growth............. 57
5.4 Recommendations......................................................................................... 57
iii
6. Infrastructure........................................................................... 58
6.1 Transport Sector............................................................................................ 58
6.1.1 Characteristics of the Sector.......................................................................... 58
6.1.2 Opportunities in Infrastructure.....................................................................61
6.1.3 Emerging Issues.............................................................................................61
6.1.4 Recommendations......................................................................................... 62
6.2 Information and Communication Technology............................................. 62
6.2.1 Characteristics of the Sector.......................................................................... 62
6.2.2 Opportunities in ICT..................................................................................... 63
6.2.3 Recommendations......................................................................................... 63
7. Housing and Urban Development..............................................67

7.2 Opportunities In housing and Urban development..................................... 70
7.3 Emerging Issues............................................................................................ 70
8. Tourism.....................................................................................72
8.1 Characteristic of the Sector........................................................................... 72
8.2 Opportunities with COVID-19 in Tourism................................................... 72
8.3 Emerging Issues ........................................................................................... 72
9. Health .......................................................................................74
9.2 Opportunities with COVID-19 in Health Sector...........................................80
9.3 Emerging Issues ...........................................................................................80
10. Education and Training............................................................. 83

10.1 Characteristics of the Sector......................................................................... 83
10.1 Opportunities with COVID-19 in Education and Training..........................88
10.2 Emerging Issues ...........................................................................................88
iv
11. Social Protection ...................................................................... 90
11.1 Characteristics of the Sector..........................................................................90
11.2 Opportunities with COVID-19 in Social Protection ..................................... 93
11.3 Emerging Issues .......................................................................................... 93
11.4 Recommendations........................................................................................ 93
12. Labour Participation................................................................. 94

12.2 Opportunities with COVID-19 in labour participation sector...................... 97
12.3 Emerging issues............................................................................................. 97
13. Conclusion and Key Recommendations.................................... 99

13.1 Conclusion..................................................................................................... 99
13.2 Key Recommendations ................................................................................101
v
List of Tables and Figures
List of Tables
Table 1.1: Development indicators in Embu County.............................................................................. 1

Table 1.2: Population distribution of selected age groups in the county................................................2
Table 1.3: Level of deprivations for the various indicators for
multidimensional poverty in the county............................................................................3
Table 1.4: Total COVID-19 cases and mobility stringency- Embu County.............................................5
Table 2.1: Monthly cash transfers from National Government (Ksh millions)......................................8
Table 2.2: OSR streams .........................................................................................................................10
Table 2.3: County departmental spending.............................................................................................14
Table 3.1: Distribution of households practising agriculture, fishing and irrigation by county and sub-
county...............................................................................................................................18
Table 3.2: Distribution of households growing grops by type, county and sub-county....................... 19
Table 3.3: Distribution of households growing permanent crops by type and county........................ 20
Table 3.4: Fruits grown in Embu County.............................................................................................. 20
Table 3.5: Vegetables grown in Embu County.......................................................................................21
Table 3.6: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) grown in Embu County........................................ 21
Table 3.7: Flowers grown in Embu County............................................................................................22
Table 3.8: Distribution of households rearing livestock and fish by county and sub-county..............22
Table 5.1: Distribution of manufacturing firms by gender and size -N (%)..........................................45
Table 5.2: Employment by gender and size for manufacturing firms...................................................46
Table 5.3: Level of innovation by firms in manufacturing................................................................... 48
Table 5.4: Distribution of MSMEs by gender and size- N (%)..............................................................52
Table 5.5: Employment by gender and size -N (%)...............................................................................52
Table 5.6: Level of innovation by MSMEs............................................................................................53
Table 7.1: Distribution of population by urban centres by gender in Embu County ...........................67
Table 9.1: Health provision....................................................................................................................74
Table 9.2:Percentage distribution of the population that reported sickness/injury by type of health
provider in the county (%)...............................................................................................75
Table 9.3: Percentage distribution of the country’s population with health insurance cover by type of
health insurance provider (%).........................................................................................76
Table 9.4: Proportion of children aged 0-59 months by place of delivery (%).....................................76
Table 9.5: Proportion of children aged 0-59 months immunized against measles.............................. 77
Table 9.6: Health sector performance...................................................................................................78
Table 10.1: Gross attendance ratio and net attendance ratio by educational level in Embu County.. 84
Table 10.2: Gross and net enrolment rate (%), 2019............................................................................ 84
Table 10.3: Percentage distribution of population aged 15 years and above by ability to read and write
(%)....................................................................................................................................85
Table 10.4: Percentage distribution of population by highest educational qualification.................... 86
vi
Table 10.5: Percentage distribution of residents 3 years and above who had ever attended school by
highest level reached, and sex for Embu County (%)..................................................... 86
Table 11.1: The proportion of households by the first severe shock in the county................................ 91
Table 11.2: The proportion of households that received cash transfers by source, and household
headship...........................................................................................................................92
Table 12.1: Distribution of population age 5 years and above by activity status, and
sex in the County..............................................................................................................94
List of Figures
Figure 1.1: Structure of the Embu County economy, 2017......................................................................4

Figure 1.2: New COVID-19 cases Embu County and the country’s stringency index ...........................5
Figure 1.3: Effects of COVID-19 on economic performance in Embu County and the country’s
stringency index.................................................................................................................6
Figure 2.1: Share of county revenues by source.......................................................................................8
Figure 2.2: Annual own source revenue targets and actual collections..................................................9
Figure 2.3: Quarterly own source revenue collection............................................................................10
Figure 2.4: County expenditure and analysis........................................................................................12
Figure 2.5: County government expenditure by economic classification (% of total county government
expenditure ......................................................................................................................13
Figure 2.6: County approved expenditure and absorption rates.......................................................... 15
Figure 2.7: Profile of county pending bills............................................................................................. 15
Figure 3.1: Scale of operation: per cent of households..........................................................................19
Figure 3.2: Agriculture related labour force participation....................................................................23
Figure 3.3: Changes in hours worked by in agriculture related occupations........................................24
Figure 3.4: Limited access to markets to purchase food items.............................................................25
Figure 3.5: Reason for limited access to markets/ grocery stores.........................................................25
Figure 3.6: Percentage of households experiencing change in food commodity prices.......................26
Figure 3.7: Proportion of households facing large food price shocks...................................................26
Figure 3.8: Percentage of households reporting that the following food items were not readily
available in their locality..................................................................................................27
Figure 3.9: Percentage of households where the following strategies were adopted for at least one day
27
Figure 3.10: Percentage of households who experienced the below shocks in the past two weeks the
KNBS Wave 2 survey....................................................................................................... 28
Figure 4.1: Access to sources of water by households...........................................................................33
Figure 4.2: Access to improved and unimproved sources of water by households..............................34
Figure 4.3: Volumes of water used by households in the past month..................................................35
Figure 4.4: Access to water sources by distance....................................................................................36
Figure 4.5: Access and reliability to water sources by households.......................................................37
Figure 4.6: Access to sanitation in Embu County..................................................................................37
Figure 4.7: Access to improved and unimproved sanitation by households....................................... 38
Figure 4.8: Number of households sharing a toilet facility ..................................................................39
vii
Figure 4.9: Access to water and sanitation during the COVID-19 period.............................................39
Figure 5.1: Sector of operation in manufacturing..................................................................................43
Figure 5.2: Manufacturing firms by sector and size..............................................................................44
Figure 5.3: Location of manufacturing firms by premises....................................................................44
Figure 5.4: Distribution of manufacturing firms by gender and sector................................................45
Figure 5.5: Education levels of manufacturing firm owners.................................................................46
Figure 5.6: Source of markets................................................................................................................47
Figure 5.7: Source of material inputs.....................................................................................................47
Figure 5.8: Sources of finance............................................................................................................... 48
Figure 5.9: Recent sources of credit.......................................................................................................49
Figure 5.10: Main purpose of credit.......................................................................................................49
Figure 5.11: Constraints faced by manufacturing firms........................................................................ 50
Figure 5.12: Distribution of MSMEs by size......................................................................................... 50
Figure 5.13: Sector of operation by MSMEs.......................................................................................... 51
Figure 5.14: Location of businesses by premises................................................................................... 51
Figure 5.15: Education levels of MSME owners....................................................................................53
Figure 5.16: Main constraints faced by MSMEs....................................................................................54
Figure 5.17: Effects of COVID-19 on household non-farm and farm businesses..................................55
Figure 5.18: Labour dynamics on household non-farm and farm businesses......................................56
Figure 6.1: Main means of transport......................................................................................................58
Figure 6.2: How has the cost of your MAIN travel changed?................................................................59
Figure 6.3: Change in travel patterns....................................................................................................59
Figure 6.4: Has delivery of your household goods and services been affected by COVID-19?........... 60
Figure 6.5: Road condition mix-classified road network..................................................................... 60
Figure 6.6: Percentage distribution of conventional households by ownership of ICT assets KPHC
2019..................................................................................................................................63
Figure 6.7: Why doesn’t this household have any type of internet connection? KHIBS 2015/16........63
Figure 6.8: Type of internet connection................................................................................................64
Figure 6.9: Mobile money transfers subscription and mobile money banking platform.....................64
Figure 7.1: Distribution of households Renting/ Provided with the main dwelling unit by Provider.67
Figure 7.2: Has your household paid the rent for April 2020 on the agreed date............................... 68
Figure 7.3: Was the household paying rent on the agreed date with the landlord before COVID-19?.69
Figure 7.4: What is the MAIN reason that has made your household unable to pay rent?..................69
Figure 7.5: What measures has your household taken to overcome the effects of Corona Virus – rent..
70
Figure 9.1: COVID-19 testing, 2020.......................................................................................................79
Figure 10.1: Access to ICT in households and schools.......................................................................... 88
Figure 12.1: Effects of COVID-19, 2020................................................................................................96
Figure 12.2: Difference between usual hours worked and actual hours worked during COVID-19
period ...............................................................................................................................96
viii
Abbreviations and Acronyms
ADPs - Annual Development Plans

AFA - Agriculture and Food Authority
AI - Artificial Insemination
CIDC - Constituency Industrial Development Centres
CIDPs - County Integrated Development Plans
DSA - Drug and Substance Abuse
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization
GBV - Gender Based Violence
GCP - Gross County Product
GDP - Gross Domestic Product
HA - Hectares
ICTs - Information Communication Technologies
ICU - Intensive Care Unit
KCB - Kenya Commercial Bank
KDHS - Kenya Demographic Household Survey
KNBS - Kenya National Bureau of Statistics
KNOCS - Kenya National Occupational Classification Standard
LREB - Lake Region Economic Bloc
LVSR - Low Volume Sealed Roads
M.I.C.E - Meetings Incentives Conferences and Exhibitions
MSMEs - Micro Small and Medium Enterprises
MT - Metric Tonnes
MTPs - Medium Term Plans
NGOs - Non-Governmental Organizations
OSR - Own Source Revenue
PFM - Public Finance Management
PPEs - Personal Protective Equipment
RAI - Rural Access Index
SDGs - Sustainable Development Goals
TVET - Technical and Vocational Educational and Training
UNICEF - United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund
UN - United Nations
WASH - Water Sanitation and Hygiene
ix
Acknowledgements
The development of the County Technical Reports was a combined effort of various
departments at the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) with
support and inputs from the Council of Governors and the 47 Counties. Specifically, the
Institute wish to thank KIPPRA’s Executive Director Dr Rose Ngugi for guiding the process.
We would also like to thank the entire KIPPRA technical and research team comprising
Dr Eldah Onsomu, Dr Evelyne Kihiu, Mutuku Muleli, James Gachanja, Rogers Musamali,
Paul Lutta, Daniel Omanyo, Hellen Chemnyongoi, Shadrack Mwatu, Nahashon Mwongera,
Paul Odhiambo, Beverly Musili, Violet Nyabaro, Japheth Kathenge, Haron Ngeno, Elton
Khaemba, Michael Ogolla, Beatrice Mwangi, Rosemary Murebu, and Ephantus Kimani for
their tireless contributions to the success of preparing the report.
x
Executive Summary
Fiscal Policy
The county’s revenues have maintained an increasing trend as the county focused on
implementing major development projects to improve the livelihoods of its people. Total
county revenues grew from Ksh 3.60 billion in FY 2013/14 to Ksh 6.41 billion in FY
2020/21 with an average annual growth rate of 6.8 per cent. The increase was supported
by the growth in equitable share from the National Government and conditional grants
from development partners over the same period. Conditional grants continue to be a
major source of financing County operations. The County receives conditional grants
from the National Government and Development Partners mainly from World Bank and
Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), European Union (EU) and Sweden.
Pending bills in Embu County generally follow an upward trend increasing from Ksh. 596.6
million in 2014/15 to 1,818.7 million in 2019/20. To steer the county towards achieving its
budgetary objective and development goals contained in the ADPs and CIDP, the county
government needs to mobilize more finances from OSR to increase the available revenues
for budgetary operations, seek for more funding in form of grants from development
partners to cater for the critical development projects in the county, ensure that the
ongoing projects are completed before launching new project and clear any pending bills
and arrears owed to suppliers and ensure the ongoing infrastructure project are completed
and suppliers paid within the specified timelines for optimal returns to investment and to
spur private sector activity.
Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries
Crops and livestock production account for a significant share of the economic activity of
Embu County. Key agricultural value chain commodities in the County include maize, beans,
bananas, potatoes, green grams, kales, cassava, khat, coffee, macadamia, mango, cattle,
goats, sheep, poultry production and bee keeping (apiculture). Among the socioeconomic
effects on the COVID-19 pandemic on the agri-food sector in the County included negative
effects on hours worked by workers in agriculture related occupations. An additional effect
was a slow down on trade and marketing activities due to the restrictions on movements
leading to price shocks and shortages of food items. Agricultural productivity in the County
is also affected by variable and extreme weather events, low agro-processing and value
addition opportunities, and land fragmentation among other factors. To successfully build
resilience and enhance growth of the agriculture sector, the County needs to explore
partnerships to develop agro-processing and value addition capacities at the County, invest
in sustainable irrigation and water harvesting technologies, enhance access to storage
and cooling facilities, and enhance commercialization opportunities among small holder
farmers.
xi
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Clean water, proper sanitation and good hygiene remains an essential component in
protecting human health in times of outbreak of infectious diseases. Frequent and correct
hand hygiene has been emphasized by World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the
frontline measures to curb transmission of COVID-19. This has placed a higher demand
for water use in households, schools, health care facilities, marketplaces, workplaces, and
public places. This therefore has necessitated the need for provision of water, sanitation,
and hygiene by national and county governments to all. The county faces challenges in
revenue collections with COVID-19 has resulted in reduced incomes among households
and businesses, thus deferring collection of revenue from the water services. This in the
long run could affect the development of the water and sanitation sector. Additionally,
COVID-19 poses health challenges to water and sanitation officers if they get infected, they
have to be self-isolated, and this may lead to disruption of services. Other constraints to
the sector include, drought, water leakages and destruction of water catchment areas. To
ensure continuous availability of water, the national and county government to increase
water supply in households, institutions, and public places through drilling of boreholes in
all the sub-counties. Partner with private sector, donor agencies, local communities, and
NGOs to help develop water infrastructure.
Manufacturing, Trade and MSMEs
The momentum in manufacturing, trade and MSMEs was disrupted by the COVID-19
pandemic as the containment measures associated with COVID-19 pandemic took a heavy
toll on the sector. The measures that were taken, such as closure of markets, observance
of health protocols in form of social distancing and handwashing served to increase the
cost of production and affected access to markets for the produce. In sustaining growth in
the Manufacturing, Trade and MSMEs sector, the County will develop a land development
strategy that safeguards the high potential agricultural land by setting the urban growth
limits to preserve the high potential areas and regulate the subdivision of this land, develop
urban-based agro-industries in Embu town to focus on proximity to agricultural raw
materials and promote agricultural value addition, promote rural development through
provision of infrastructure and agricultural sector development and related economic
activities, and enhance agricultural production by intensifying the use of the land.
Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban development
The main means of transport used in the County is walking followed by motorbike. The
paved County Road network covers 56.09 km, while the paved National roads cover
239.17 km. Out of the total paved road network of 295.26 km, 84.4 per cent is in good
condition, 9.7 per cent in fair condition and 4.7 per cent in poor condition. The status of
ICT access and use in the county is low, especially among households. The housing tenure
is predominantly owner occupied at 73.0 per cent, with 27.0 per cent of the households
under rental tenure. The county has challenges in quality of the housing stock. In response
to the challenges, it is recommended that the county to improve and expand infrastructure
for Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) in urban areas and along roads with heavy -high
xii
Executive summary
speed traffic to promote sustainable mobility options and enhance road safety for all road
users, speed up the construction of fiber-optic broadband networks in underdeveloped
areas, and avail appropriate building technology for use by the public in house construction
and improvement in every sub-county, that responds to local cultural and environmental
circumstances.
Tourism
Tourism has a high potential in the Embu County for both local and international
tourists. Some of the available sites include caves, waterfalls and rocky hills (Karue,
Kianjiru, Kiambere, Ndune, Kirimiri, Maranga, Kiang’ombe) to support hiking; Kamburu
and Masinga hydro-electric power dams; Mt Kenya and Mwea National Parks that host
various wildlife. To boost tourism, the County to: promote domestic tourism to cushion
the economy from impacts of travel advisories and constraints caused by the pandemic
on international tourist arrivals; conduct regular maintenance of tourism attraction sites;
engage in tourism marketing and promotion; diversify tourism products; open access
routes to the tourist sites; sensitize the community on tourist sites in the county; Promotion
of eco-tourism, cultural and sports tourism in the 6 main rivers (Tana, Rupingazi, Kii, Ena,
Thiba, Thuci) and two hydro-electric dams; and develop tourism infrastructure such as
route to Mt Kenya, star-rated hotels, tourist sites, and tented camps.
Health
The County has 157 facilities that comprise of 9 hospitals, 16 health centres and 132 are
dispensaries. The government owned 50 per cent of the facilities, 33 per cent of these
facilities owned by private and 17 per cent owned by faith-based organizations. However,
government indicating increased reliance on public facilities for curative healthcare
services owns approximately 56 per cent of the health centres and hospitals. The county has
9 specialists, 60 doctors, 600 nurses and 113 clinical officers. The county therefore has a
doctor –Patient ratio of 1:35,000 against WHO recommendation of 1:230. However, these
numbers are not adequate to achieve the WHO recommended staff to patient ratio and to
serve a county population of 608,599 people (2019 Census). To achieve this, the county
government need to employ additional staff to bridge the existing gaps in human resource
for health. For a resilient health sector, there is need for more awareness on immunization
so that mothers can ensure their children get immunized. Implement a comprehensive
human resource health management system including undertaking training needs
assessments and information system to ensure skilled and motivated health care workers,
equitable deployed across all sub-counties. This is in addition to paying the salaries in time
to avoid cases of strikes and low staff morale. Recruit additional of public health officers
and community health workers to strengthen preventive and public health systems.
Education and Training
Embu County has a total of 619 pre-primary centres, 552 primary schools. Gross attendance
ratio for pre-primary school was 69.5 per cent while that of primary school and secondary
xiii
school was 119.0 and 66.0 per cent respectively. The gross attendance ratio for pre-primary
school was higher for males, 76.6 per cent, compared to that for females, 60.4 per cent. The
gross attendance ratio for primary school was higher for females, 125.6 per cent, compared
to that for males, 113.9 per cent. For secondary school, gross attendance ratio was higher
for males, 67.8 per cent, compared to that for females, 64.3 per cent. The net attendance
ratio for pre-primary, primary and secondary school was 57.0, 94.2 and 44.0 per cent,
respectively. The County with support from stakeholders will need to continue to invest in
early childhood development through infrastructural development to allow for adequate
education access; deployment of ECDE teachers and provision of sanitation facilities. The
county would put up measures that encourage learners to complete all levels of education
by providing financial or in-kind support, such as school feeding, to help families overcome
the increased costs of attending school and provide psychosocial support to teachers and
learners during and after the pandemic.
Social Protection
Embu County has a population of 608,599 of which 6.4 per cent are the elderly and 4.4
per cent are people living with disabilities (KNBS, 2019). The overall poverty rates in the
county stand at 44 per cent which is higher than the national average (36.1%). Despite
being an agricultural county, the county’s food poverty levels are at 28 per cent and 28 per
cent of the total population is multi-dimensionally poor. Further, about 27 per cent of the
children population is stunted. To cushion the citizens, the county has made various safety
net programmes. The County targeted to provide cash transfer to 200 households in each
sub – county, provide cash transfer to 50 households in each sub – county for poor and
severe disabled persons. The County also supported and built capacities of individuals,
vulnerable groups and communities for equity and self-reliance through training. With
increasing demand for cash transfers, the County government initiated targeted cash
transfers to the elderly and food distribution to vulnerable households both before and
during COVID-19 period.
Labour participation
Agriculture is the main driver of the economy in Embu County with over 70 per cent
of the residents being small scale farmers. Farmers were greatly affected by COVID-19,
mainly because of national lockdowns and social distancing policies. The agriculture sector
experienced a low traffic on sales and movement of goods, which in turn had an adverse
effect on market operations and cash flow for farmers. The export and import restrictions
created uncertainty on the crop farming and tourism industry. It will be important for the
County to promote appropriate labour market interventions, especially those working in
the agricultural sector, and implement policy reforms that drive employment creation. The
county to enhance investments and mechanisms for up skilling and reskilling, deepening
technical skills as well as ICT skills; and retraining employees on how to work from home,
where applicable. The county government to protect workers in the informal economy by
pursuing innovative policies and facilitate transition to the formal economy in the longer
term.
xiv
1. Introduction and Structure of Embu County
Economy
1.1 Introduction
Embu County is one of the counties in the Central Region Economic Bloc (CEREB). The
county occupies a land area of 2,818 km2.The county had an estimated population of
608,599 persons of whom 49.9 per cent were male and 50.0 per cent female (KNBS, 2019)
as indicated in table 1. Of the population 23,816 (4.4%) are persons with disabilities. The
youth constituted 34.0 per cent of the population of whom 49.0 per cent were female. The
county has a population density of 216 per km2. About 87.5 per cent of the population live
in rural areas of whom 49.9 per cent are female. The older persons (65 year and above)
constitute 6.4 per cent of the total population of whom 57.5 per cent were female. The
population in school going age group (4-22 years) was 38.9 per cent in 2019.
In 2015/2016, the overall poverty rate in Embu County was 28.0 per cent against the
national poverty rate of 36.1 per cent. In addition, 27.9 per cent of the population were
living in food poverty and 44.3 per cent were living in multidimensional poverty, that
means being deprived in several dimensions including health care, nutrition and adequate
food, drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, education, knowledge of health and nutrition,
housing and standard of living, and access to information. According to KDHS 2014, 26.8
per cent of the children were stunted as compared to the average national level at 26.0 per
cent.
Table 1.1: Development indicators in Embu County
County National
Estimated County Population (KNBS, 2019) 1.1% of total
608,599 population
304,208 49.9%
Males
304,367 50.0%
Females
24 0.003%
Intersex
Estimated Population Density (km2) 216 82
Persons with disability 4.4% 2.2%

Population living in rural areas (%) 87.5% 68.8%
Children (0-14 years) (per cent) 34.2% 41.1%
School going age (4-22 years) (%) 38.9% 68.7%
Youth 15-34 years (%) 34.0% 36.1%
1
Labour force (15-64 years) (%) 59.1% 55.0%
Elderly population (over 65-year-old) 6.4% 3.9%
Number of COVID-19 cases (as at 11th September 109 0.34% of the

2020) (MOH); National cases were 35,232 national cases
people
Poverty (2015/2016) (%) 28.0% 36.1%
Food Poverty (2015/2016) (%) 27.9% 31.9%
Multidimensional Poverty (2015/2016) (%) 44.3% 56.1%
Stunted children (KDHS 2014) 26.8% 26%
Gross County Product (Ksh million) 2020 153,927 1.6% share to total
GDP
Average growth of nominal GCP (2013-2020) 87.8% 104.8%
(%)
Data Source: KNBS (2019)
The age distribution of the county residents as per the 2019 Housing and Population
Census is shown in Table 1.2. The bulk of the County’s population is in the age group of
between 15-34 years comprising of 208,199 individuals. They are followed by persons
aged between 6-13 years who are the primary school children comprising of 103,386 of the
county population. The under 0-3 age comprise of 49,299 of the county population. This
shows that the county has a general youthful population.
Table 1.2: Population distribution for selected age groups in
the county (2019)
Age Group Male Female Total
Under 0-3
24,937 24,362 49,299
Preprimary school age (Under 4-5) 12,252 11,792 24,044
Primary School Age (6 -13) 52,007 51,379 103,386
Secondary school age (14-17) 27,609 26,512 54,121
Youth Population (15-34) 105,547 102,652 208,199
Female Reproductive age (15-49) 155,889 155,889
Labour force (15-64) 191530 187882 187,882
Aged Population 65+ 16,478 22,294 38,772
2
Introduction and structure of Embu County economy
1.2 Level of socio-economic deprivations
In 2015/2016, 27.1 per cent of the population had health insurance cover, 32.7 per cent
lived in premises with water, 80.4 per cent lived in their own homes and 74.3 per cent had
access to mobile telephone (Table 1.3) and majority of the households (99 per cent) had
access to toilet facility. As a result, the multi-dimensional poverty is estimated at 44.3 per
cent.
Table 1.3: Level of deprivations for the various indicators for multidimensional
poverty in the county
Indicator Percentage Distribution
Health care Population with Health 32.7
Insurance Cover
Drinking water (Time Zero (In premises) 12.3
taken to fetch) less than 30 minutes 67.6
30 minutes or longer 19.9
Sanitation and Hygiene Proportion of households 99.0
with toilet facility
Shared Toilet 35.8
Not Shared 64.2
Place to wash hands 15.4
outside toilet facility
No place to wash hands 84.4
outside toilet facility
Education (Population 3 Ever Attended 91.8
years and Above by School
Attendance Status) Never Attended 7.8
Knowledge of health Participated in 56.9

and nutrition (children Community Nutrition
aged 0-59 months Programmes
that participated in Did not Participated in 43.1
Community Nutrition Community Nutrition
Programmes) Programmes
Housing and standard of Owner Occupier 80.4
living (house ownership) Pays Rent/ Lease 16.5
Access to information Television 68.4
(Population Aged 3 Radio 93.1
years and above by ICT
Mobile phone 74.3
Equipment and Services
Used) Computer 7.8
Internet 12.4
Source: KIHBS 2015/2016
3
1.3 Structure of Embu County Economy
Embu County Gross County Product (GCP) accounted for 1.6 per cent of total Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) between 2013 and 2020 (figure 1). The GCP increased from Ksh.
81,946 million in 2013 to Ksh. 153,927 million in 2020 representing an average annual
growth rate of 12.5 per cent. The service sector contributes 44.0 per cent of GCP while
agriculture, manufacturing and other industries sector share constituted 38.4 per cent,
2.33 per cent and 15.0 per cent, respectively. The services sector includes such activities as
wholesale and retail trade. Agriculture is mainly dominated by Crop farming (mostly cash
crops such as coffee, Tea, Macadamia nuts, Cotton) and Cattle farming (dairy and beef),
while industries and manufacturing include small scale production of consumer goods
such as plastics, furniture, textiles and food processing (Figure 1.1).
Figure 1.1: Structure of the Embu County economy, 2017

County Gross Product Sector Contribution as share of GCP
1.4 COVID-19 Caseload and Implications of Mobility Restrictions
As of March 2020, Embu County had zero COVID-19 cases. However, by August 2020,
the County had reported 4 COVID-19 cases with mobility stringency of 70.4. The caseload
would rise to 1,367 by August 2021 with mobility stringency of 56.0. The mobility
stringency index is a composite measure rescaled to a value from 0 to 100 (100=strictest)
based on nine response mobility indicators. The nine metrics used to calculate the mobility
stringency index include school closures, workplace closures, cancellation of public events,
restrictions on public gatherings, closure of public transport, stay-at-home requirements,
public information campaigns, restrictions on internal movements and international travel
controls. An index measure closer to 100 means high incidence or severity of mobility
4
Introduction and structure of Embu County economy
restrictions. The County mobility stringency index implies the severity of the restrictions
was moderate.
Table 1.4: Total COVID-19 cases and mobility stringency - Embu County
Date Total cases Mobility stringency (0-100)

13th March 2020 0 36.1
23rd August 2020 4 70.4
23rd August 2021 1,367 56.0
Data Source: Oxford University
New COVID-19 cases in Embu County were highest between September 202o-January
2021, March 2021-May 2021 and July 2021-August 2021. During the three time-periods,
spikes in new cases in the County were preceded by relaxation of COVID-19 mobility
restrictions. Reduction in the County’s new cases was similarly preceded by tightening of
mobility restrictions.
Figure 1.2: New COVID-19 cases in Embu County and the county’s Stringency
Index

Public transport and workplaces have been the most responsive to COVID-19 mobility
restrictions in Embu County. The sub-sectors reported the largest shrinkage in activity
5
when mobility restrictions were tightest but rebounded when mobility restrictions were
least stringent. Demand for workspaces has registered sustained recovery after mobility
restrictions were vacated in October 2021.
Figure 1.3: Effects of COVID-19 on economic performance in Embu County
and the county’s stringency index

The broad objective of the report is to analyze the socioeconomic effects of COVID-19
across sectors and propose interventions for mitigating the effects. The report is organized
as follows. Chapter 2 focuses on fiscal policy; Chapter 3 focuses on agriculture, livestock
and fisheries; chapter 4 focuses on water sanitation and hygiene; chapter 5 focuses on
manufacturing, trade and MSEs; chapter 6 focuses on transport and information and
communication technology; chapter 7 focuses on urban development; chapter 8 focuses on
6
tourism, chapter 9 focuses on health; chapter 10 focuses on education and training; chapter
11 focuses on social protection; chapter 12 focuses on human resources and chapter 13
concludes the report.
2 Fiscal Policy
County revenue analysis
Availability of financial resources is critical in implementing county operations. Timely and

adequate funding aid in successful implementation of the county’s projects. The County’s
main revenue sources comprise of the transfers from the National Government, Conditional
Grants and its own source revenue (OSR).
Transfers from National Government
The county revenues maintained an increasing trend as the county focused on implementing
major development projects to improve the livelihoods of its people. Total county revenues
increased from Ksh 3.60 billion in 2013/14 to Ksh 6.41 billion in 2020/21. The increase was
supported by the growth in equitable share from the National Government and conditional
grants from development partners over the same period. The amount realized in 2020/21
was 90.2 per cent of the annual budget allocation of Ksh 7.11 billion. The performance was
an improvement from the 84.2 per cent target attained in 2019/20. This was supported by
the 100 per cent disbursement of equitable shares and conditional grants from development
partners.
Analysis of the sources of county revenues indicate that equitable share from the National
government contributed the largest share of the total revenues (figure 2.1). On average, it
contributed 74.96 per cent of the total revenues between 2013/14 and 2020/21. Equitable
share grew by 66 per cent from Ksh 2.81 billion in 2013/14 to Ksh 4.67 billion in 2020/21.
The amount received in 2020/21 accounted for 100 per cent of the annual budget allocation,
7
an improvement from 91.4 per cent attained in 2019/20. This implied that the County
received all expected amount from the National Government to finance its operations,
underscoring its commitment to support county operations through timely financing.
Figure 2.1:Share of county revenues by source
Data Source: Office of the Controller of Budget (Various reports)

Monthly cash transfers from the National government have maintained an increasing trend
from January to June over the years as shown in table 2.1. A similar trend was observed in
2020 with the transfers growing by 80.69 per cent from Ksh 2.6 billion in January to Ksh
4.7 billion in June. In comparison to 2019, the total amount transferred to Embu County
in March, April, May, and June of 2020 increased by 10.59 per cent from Ksh 15.11 billion
to Ksh 16.71 billion. The growth in disbursements is partly attributable to financing of
programs aimed at mitigating the spread and management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Table 2.1 : Monthly cash transfers from National Government (Ksh million)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Oct Nov Dec
2021 2,492.58 2,908.51 - - - - 1,281.31 - -
2020 2,594.62 3,151.47 3,495.82 3,954.44 4,047.99 4,677.03 1,080.40 1,446.28 1,931.61
2019 2,109.15 2,476.86 2,907.33 3,388.40 3,795.11 5,020.34 3,795.11 1,177.78 171,104.69
2018 1,894.58 1,920.00 2,675.93 3,425.33 3,473.89 4,570.23 958.16 1,410.92 1,530.82
2017 - - 2,591.75 2,987.39 3,726.30 4,434.77 617.15 - -
2016 - - 2,359.00 3,044.24 3,385.89 3,385.89 - - -
Data source: Gazette Notice (Various issues)
Conditional grants
Conditional grants continue to be a major source of financing County operations. The County
receives conditional grants from the National Government and Development Partners
mainly from World Bank and Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA),
European Union (EU) and Sweden. During 2020/21, the County received Ksh 481.85
million and Ksh 383.42 million from National Government and Development partners
respectively. The contribution of condition grants to total revenue has been robust (figure
2.1). On average, the grants contributed 8.79 per cent of the County total revenue between
2013/14 and 2020/21. In nominal terms, conditional grants have increased slightly from
8
Fiscal policy
Ksh 557.20 million in 2013/14 to Ksh 865.28 million in the 2020/21. There is need for the
county to maintain good relations, and comply fully to the requirements of its development
partners to continue benefiting from the conditional grant
Own Source Revenue
The share of OSR to the total revenue has similarly been robust. On average, OSR
contributed 7.76 per cent to total revenues between 2013/14 and 2020/21 (Figure 2.1).
During 2020/21, it contributed 12.35 per cent of the total revenues, an all-time high. The
strong performance registered indicates some level of resilience in OSR collections amidst
the adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic experienced.
The performance of the county annual OSR has been relatively stable, though with a series
of fluctuations as indicated in figure 2.2. Analysis of annual County OSR performance
indicate growth over the years except during 2019/20 and 2020/21. The county has achieved
slightly more than 50 per cent of its targets save for 2020/21 when it realized 40.02 per
cent. In 2019/20, the county generated Ksh 509.65 million as OSR, a decrease of 19.03 per
cent compared to Ksh 629.42 million realised during same period in 2018/19. Similarly,
the amount collected as OSR during 2020/21 decreased by 26.4 per cent compared to the
amount collected in 2019/20. The persistent decline was premised on the negative effect of
COVID-19 pandemic on business activities and subsequent revenue collection.
Figure 2.2: Annual own source revenue targets and actual collections

Analysis of the quarterly OSR indicate that most OSR are collected during the third and
fourth quarter, premised on the payments of single business permits (Figure 2.3). In
2019/20, the County realized low collections during the first and second quarter, with
significant improvements in the third and fourth quarter. However, during the fourth
quarter of 2019/20, the generated OSR declined by 24.09 per cent from Ksh 141.99 million
realized during the third quarter to Ksh 107.79 million. This was attributed to the effects of
9
COVID-19 pandemic that affected most economic activities. During 2020/21, the quarterly
collections remained low compared to other financial years. With the ease of containment
measures across the country, the OSR performance is expected to improve as well.
Figure 2.3: Quarterly own source revenue collection

Analysis of the revenue streams indicate that single business permit contributes the highest
amount followed by CESS, street and bus parking fees as well as market fees (Table 2.2).
The single business permit contributed a total Ksh 345.55 million from 2013/14 to 2018/19
whereas Cess, street and parking fees and market fees amounted to Ksh 215.96 million, Ksh
153.52 million and Ksh 114.22 million, respectively.
Table 2.2: OSR streams
Revenue 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2018/19 Total
Single Business 55,643,804 63,454,991 58,079,141 89,090,298 79,277,460 345,545,694

Permit
Cess 22,228,672 45,426,647 53,525,687 45,409,713 49,365,334 215,956,053
Street and Bus 29,436,490 34,299,301 32,245,595 27,709,473 29,831,400 153,522,259

Parking Fees
Market Fees 25,288,867 26,984,888 22,334,263 19,557,260 20,051,304 114,216,582
Land Rates and 11,845,091 11,708,149 12,460,639 13,753,276 16,675,005 66,442,160

Plot Rates
Miscellaneous 14,287,684 22,989,947 16,054,677 3,958,525 3,246,992 60,537,825
House Stall 5,766,520 12,295,191 7,949,533 6,924,311 18,880,855 51,816,410
Technical 1,170,100 12,718,519 5,707,504 4,219,869 4,687,350 28,503,342

Planning Fees
Advert Fees 102,400 338,324 3,225,924 896,280 21,775,255 26,338,183
Slaughter Fees 885,150 1,415,925 864,175 2,466,415 913,800 6,545,465
Enforcement 992,562 1,047,550 1,378,300 1,215,425 1,002,940 5,636,777
Stock Auction - 2,531,970 2,223,030 1,766,655 601,830 4,591,515

Fees
Water Charges 33,530 343,270 454,105 176,285 40,960 1,048,150
10
Fiscal policy
Administration 805,645 143,240 1,000 949,885

Fees
Total 168,486,515 235,697,912 216,502,573 217,143,785 246,351,485 1,081,650,300
2.1 County Expenditure Analysis
Economic and political crises, natural disasters (such as droughts and flooding), security
challenges and health crisis (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) highlight the consequential
risks and underlying vulnerabilities in national and county level budgetary and planning
system. These can substantially affect public resources and in cases of weaker planning
systems they may impact the nature and level of service delivery to the citizen.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasize the productive role of targeted
and strategic county level expenditure. The 2014 UN Secretary General’s Synthesis Report
on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) states that “many of the investments to
achieve the sustainable development goals will take place at the sub-national level and be
led by local authorities”1. It is at the counties that economic activity takes place and when
spending priorities and execution are done just right then the county and country will be
set to the desired development trajectory.
Despite their constrained fiscal autonomy (such as inability to borrow funds) and relatively
small budgets, the county government has a key role to play in promoting growth as
espoused in the Kenya Constitution. This is particularly the case with development
expenditure, which is within the assigned remit of county as per the PFM Act of 2012 and
is key to the county’s future growth prospects given several decades of under-investment
which have constrained productive capacity in the local economy.
Trends and profile of county government expenditures
County expenditure has over the years been rising as the county escalates its efforts in
provision of services to its residents. Total county expenditure has grown significantly since
2013/14. With the implementation of the first full year county budget in 2013/14, actual
expenditure in the county increased from Ksh. 2,745.4 million to Ksh. 5,227.2 million in FY
2020/21 (Figure 2.4). This translates to over eighty per cent increase in county spending
over the period. Cumulatively the county has spent a total of Ksh. 37.6 billion over the
period under review. This comprises of a cumulative Ksh 28.9 billion and Ksh. 8.6 billion
on recurrent and development expenditures representing 77.0 per cent and 23.0 per
1
UN General Assembly (2014), p. 22, par. 94.
11
cent of the cumulative recurrent and development expenditure respectively. This signals
that development expenditure performance is relatively weak and there is even a greater
opportunity to push development expenditure higher and support deepening of capital
spending in the county.
Figure 2.4: County expenditure analysis
Figure2.4a: Trends in actual Figure 2.4b: Trends in actual per
aggregate expenditure capita expenditure
Data Source: Office of the Controller of Budget

Consistent with the nominal growth in actual county expenditures, spending on a per capita
basis has more than doubled over the period. In 2013/14, per capita spending in the county
was about Ksh 5,318.4 compared Ksh 11,460.7 in 2018/19. Between 2013/14 and 2018/19
per capita spending averaged Ksh 8,797.8. At the end of 2020/21 per capita expenditure
stood at Ksh 8,588.9.
Utilization of public resources in the county
Analysis of expenditures by economic classification and by departments (spending

priorities) reveals since inception of devolution, the county government prioritized
narrowing the economic and social infrastructure gaps. Much of government spending
has mainly been on provision of health services, roads, transport and public works and
agriculture, livestock and fisheries among others.
The average development spending was 21.5 per cent of total expenditure between
2013/14 and 2020/21. In 2013/14 development expenditure accounted for 5.4 per cent.
12
Fiscal policy
This increased to 16.7 per cent in 2014/15, 23.6 per cent in 2015/16 and 36.4 per cent
in 2016/17. Afterwards, development spending as a share if total spending began to fall
reaching 21.0 per cent at the end of 2019/20 as presented in Figure 2.5. At the end of
2020/21 development spending accounted for 24.5 per cent of total expenditure.
Figure 2.5: County government expenditure by economic classification (% of
total county government expenditure
Performance of development spending and compensation of employees exhibit converse

relationship. In the periods when development spending was rising, compensation of
employees was declining and vice versa. For Embu County, compensation of employees
on average accounted for 56.8 per cent between 2013/14 and 2020/21. In 2013/14 it
accounted for 69.9 per cent of total expenditure declining steadily to 44.2 per cent in FY
2016/17 before picking up to 55.6 per cent in 2017/18 and then decelerating to 52.7 per cent
in 2018/19 and increasing to 58.6 per cent at the end of 2019/20. At the end of 2020/21
compensation of employees accounted for 55.8 per cent.
Reflecting on expenditures by functional classification or priority spending (Table 2.3),
the county spent a combined average of 70.6 per cent of the total expenditure during the
period 2014/15 to 2020/21 on non-administrative and non-coordinational functions such
as county health and sanitation (31.1%); infrastructure and public works (13.2%); Embu
Level Five hospital (7.8%); education , youth empowerment and sports (7.2%); agriculture,
livestock and fisheries (5.3%); lands, water, physical planning and housing (4.0%); trade,
investment, industry, tourism and cooperative development (2.5%); and gender, culture,
children and social services (0.5%). In contrast, coordinational and administrative functions
accounted for a combined average of 29.4 per cent, with Office of the Governor accounting
13
for 9.9 per cent, County Assembly 10.2 per cent, public service, and administration at 3.6
per cent, finance, and economic planning at 2.5 per cent while County Public Service Board
accounted for 0.5 per cent.
Table 2.3: County departmental spending

Average
Average share of
2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 spending spending
Health & Sanitation 375.9 1,314.4 1,732.2 1,712.6 2,003.0 1,900.8 1,805.6 1,549.2 31.1
Infrastructure, Public Works, Housing & energy 207.8 442.1 1,053.5 518.1 783.8 723.9 876.4 657.9 13.2
County Assembly 416.7 465.5 485.0 481.4 556.1 550.1 607.4 508.9 10.2
Office of the Governor 1,906.2 370.1 316.1 301.0 168.82 184.96 205.2 493.2 9.9
Embu Level Five hospital 499.9 284.8 406.3 336.7 375.5 420.8 400.7 389.2 7.8
Education, Youth Empowerment & sports 144.2 216.0 536.5 424.0 482.7 393.7 309.6 358.1 7.2
Public Service and administartion - 219.7 298.1 403.8 518.8 341.5 399.5 311.6 6.3
Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries & Co-op Devt 45.9 314.5 338.9 291.8 359.5 257.9 236.9 263.6 5.3
Lands, Water, Physical planning & urbal development 98.5 143.6 241.7 332.3 331.6 138.5 117.0 200.4 4.0
Finance, Economic planning & revenue authority 90.1 87.8 62.1 161.3 192.8 114.7 170.9 125.7 2.5
Trade, Tourism, Investment & Industrialization 8.2 83.8 200.9 40.6 86.3 61.5 39.6 74.4 1.5
Gender, Culture, chidlren & social services 4.7 12.0 59.0 22.5 27.3 35.8 22.5 26.3 0.5
County Public Service Board 4.9 2.9 28.9 36.5 27.1 39.4 36.0 25.1 0.5
Total 3,802.8 3,957.2 5,759.2 5,062.4 5,913.3 5,163.5 5,227.3 4,983.7 100.0
Effectiveness of County spending

Total budget execution averaged 77.2 per cent in the period 2013/14 to 2020/21. In 2013/14
overall total budget execution stood at 68.2 per cent. This execution improved to 76.2 per
cent in 2014/15 and declined slightly to 69.1 per cent in 2015/16 before picking up to 86.6
per cent in 2018/19. At the end of 2019/20 execution of budget was 76.2 per cent and
declined to 73.5 at the end of 2020/21. This means that in 2020/21 Ksh. 5,227.2 million
was utilized out of the Ksh 7,107.1 million approved budget (Figure 2.7).
With regards to development budget execution in the county, the average absorption rate
over the period under review was 49.6 per cent (implying that on average about 50.4 per
cent of the development budget is not absorbed). This is a major budget implementation
weakness, and the county should continue tightening budget implementation to ensure
achievement of greater absorption rates to keep help achieve the targets in ADPs and the
CIDP. On recurrent expenditure, the execution has been robust over the years, the average
absorption rate averaged 90.8 per cent leaving about 9.2 per cent of unspent recurrent
budget.
14
Fiscal policy
Figure 2.6: County approved expenditure and absorption rates

Figure 2.6a: Approved versus actual Figure 2.6b: Absorption rates for
county spending (Ksh Million) recurrent and development expenditures
(%)
Pending Bills
Pending bills in Embu County generally follow an upward trend. In 2014/15 the county
reported Ksh. 596.6 million in pending bills. This increased to Ksh. 798.2 million in 2015/16
with development related pending bills accounting for 86.7 per cent of this. Pending bills
increased further to Ksh. 860.5 million in 2016/17 then ascended to Ksh. 1,278.7 million
in 2017/18 before decelerating to Ksh. 1,048.9 million in 2018/19. At the end of 2019/20,
pending bills totalled 1,818.7 million and Ksh 1,817.0 million. Generally, pending bills
related to development have been greater than those related to recurrent expenditure on
average accounting for 57.9 per cent of the pending bills portfolio over the review period.
If pending bills for development spending were paid in their respective fiscal year, the
execution of development budget in subsequent years would improve.
Figure 2.7: Profile of county pending bills
Source: KIPPRA based on Office of the Controller of Budget
15
To achieve its overall goal of improving lives and livelihoods of its residents, the county
government must now move quickly to tackle the problem of pending bills. Increasing and
persistent pending bills is a threat to the survival of the private sector particularly primary
firms that trade with the county government. These firms are critical for employment
creation as well as driving economic activity within the county. These bills have not only
affected their profitability and overall performance but have also become a threat to private
sector in general and the families that depend on these firms through ripple effect. If not
well monitored these could grow and eat up on the county’s already thin revenue sources.
2.2 Key Messages
From the foregoing, the following are observed:

i. It is evident that much of expenditure particularly development expenditure happens
in third and fourth quarters of the fiscal year, with the latter showing stronger
performance. This pattern reveals systemic weaknesses in county public investment
management system.
ii. County wage bill has largely exceeded 35 per cent of county actual expenditure
averaging 56.8 per cent while development spending averaging 21.5 per cent.
iii. Priority expenditure has been on non-administrative and non-coordinational
functions such as health, education, agriculture, roads etc., accounting for an
average of 70.6 per cent of actual expenditure. Health sector leads at 31.1 per cent.
Administrative and coordinational functions such as county executive, county
assembly, public service management and finance account for 29.4 per cent of
expenditure.
iv. Budget execution as measured by absorption rate has improved over the review
period. Average overall absorption rate stands at 77.2 per cent. Average development
budget absorption rate stands at 49.6 per cent while that of recurrent expenditure
stands at 90.8 per cent.
v. Pending bills have been burgeoning over the review period with development related
pending bills on average accounting for 57.9 per cent of the entire pending bills
portfolio.
2.3 Recommendations
To steer the county towards achieving its budgetary objective and development goals
contained in the ADPs and CIDP, the following measures are proposed:
(i) Mobilize more finances from OSR to increase the available revenues for budgetary
operations.
(ii) Seek for more funding in form of grants from development partners to cater for the
critical development projects in the county.
(iii) Ensure that the ongoing projects are completed before launching new project and
clear any pending bills and arrears owed to suppliers.
16
Fiscal policy
(iv) Ensure the ongoing infrastructure project are completed and suppliers paid within
the specified timelines for optimal returns to investment and to spur private sector
activity.
(v) Improve budget execution and absorption of development budget by harmonizing
project implementation cycles to budgeting and fast-track exchequer releases.
(vi) Reduction of expenditure on compensation of employees within the PFM requirement
since ballooning compensation of employees potentially affects execution of key
development programs especially if not brought to sustainable levels.
(vii) Monitoring and prompt payment of pending bills as they limit execution of planned
activities in subsequent budgets.
17
3 Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries
3.1 Characteristics of the sector
Agriculture accounts for the significant share of economic activity in Embu County. More
than 30 per cent of county economic activity is driven by the agriculture sector. In 2017,
agriculture accounted for Ksh 39,794 million out of the total Ksh 103,734 million Gross
County Product (GCP) amounting to 38.4 per cent of the County’s GCP.
Over 70 per cent of the households in Embu County practice farming. About 67 per cent
of the households produce crops, 54 per cent produce livestock, 0.32 per cent practice
aquaculture and about 0.89 per cent are involved in fishing. About 6.5 per cent of the
households practice irrigation farming.
Table 3.1: Distribution of households practicing agriculture, fishing and
irrigation by county and sub-county
County/Sub Total Farming Crop Livestock Aquaculture Fishing Irrigation
County Households Production Production
Households
Kenya 12,143,913 6,354,211 5,555,974 4,729,288 29,325 109,640 369,679
Embu 182,743 130,990 123,265 98,446 579 1,633 11,873
Embu East 39,678 31,674 29,995 23,924 160 234 2,595
Embu North 24,300 18,854 17,797 13,718 90 176 2,234
Embu West 43,153 21,166 19,386 14,566 151 220 2,231

Mbeere
South 46,065 35,511 33,684 27,304 93 705 2,930
Mbeere
North 29,528 23,785 22,403 18,934 85 298 1,883
Mt. Kenya
Forest 19 - - - - - -
Source: 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census

On the scale of production, the FAO criterion on land size is used to identify small
holder farmers as those producers that “fall in the bottom 40 per cent of the cumulative
distribution’’ (Khalil et al., 2017). Using this criterion, about 34.2 per cent of the farming
households in Embu County are “small-scale” farming with a land holding of 0.675 or less
acres of land.
18
Agriculture, livestock and fisheries
Figure 3.1: Scale of operation: per cent of households
Source: KIHBS 2015/2016. Figures for a period of the 12 months

The County is classified as a Semi-arid uplands agro-ecological zone as per the Agricultural
Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS) 2019-2029, suitable for dryland
crops and beef cattle. An overall analysis of the county agricultural production indicates
among the top food crops produced by households in Embu include maize, beans, bananas,
potatoes, green grams, kales and cassava.
Table 3.2: Distribution of households growing crops by type, county and sub-
county
County/Sub-County Embu Embu Embu Embu Mbeere Mbeere
East North West South North
Maize 109,171 26,782 14,688 16,926 31,493 19,282
Beans 89,278 23,223 11,822 14,872 24,850 14,511
Bananas 55,970 21,651 13,757 12,529 3,659 4,374
Potatoes 31,032 13,434 6,378 9,283 698 1,239
Green grams 30,437 209 139 317 20,013 9,759
Kales 27,825 9,108 9,773 4,773 2,431 1,740
Cassava 27,641 9,993 4,179 4,414 5,218 3,837
Sorghum 22,883 740 169 443 12,570 8,961
Sweet potatoes 20,905 6,218 5,096 3,725 3,945 1,921
Sugarcane 17,631 7,359 4,749 3,370 1,064 1,089
Millet 12,819 282 80 205 4,855 7,397
Tomatoes 8,734 2,578 2,289 1,359 1,664 844
Onions 8,517 3,137 3,214 1,292 486 388
Cabbages 8,247 2,601 4,260 943 274 169
Watermelons 1,884 277 127 285 724 471
Ground Nuts 1,215 202 107 242 451 213
19
Key permanent crops among households in Embu include Khat, coffee, macadamia and
mango.
Table 3.3: Distribution of households growing permanent Crops by type and
County
County/Sub Tea Coffee Avocado Citrus Mango Macadamia Khat
County (Miraa)
Embu 18,664 28,996 19,355 3,581 26,771 27,488 34,900
Kenya 476,613 478,936 966,976 177,445 796,867 195,999 134,148
Resource productivity is another key important factor in determining the agro-processing

potential (scale) of the County and would have a great impact on farmers’ incomes and the
County’s GCP. An assessment of horticultural productivity indicates Embu’s value of fruits
production in 2019 amounted to KES fruits 1.9 billion. The area under fruit was 5,416 Ha
with a production of 87,560 MT. The major fruits grown in order of value importance are;
macadamia nuts, banana, mango, avocado, pawpaw, purple passion and watermelons.
Table 3.4: Fruits Grown in Embu County
Type of Fruit Area in Ha Production in Tons Value in Shillings
Macadamia Nuts 840 6,300 756,000,000
Banana 1,583 37,992 531,888,000
Mango 1,598 29,084 183,168,597
Avocado 553 8,297 165,940,000
Pawpaw 512 3,072 122,880,000
Purple Passion 41 346 82,577,778
Watermelons 193 1,785 51,150,000
Cashew Nuts 10 75 9,000,000
Oranges 30 220 7,340,000
Yellow Passion 8 64 3,200,000
Tangerines 10 100 3,000,000
Pineapples 2 45 1,800,000
Lemons 17 127 1,405,000
Tree Tomato 14 42 1,260,000
Custard Apple 2 5 250,000
Loquats 3 6 60,000
Total 5,416 87,560 1,920,919,375
Source: Agriculture and Food Authority, 2019
In 2019, the value of vegetables production in the County amounted to Ksh 399.5 million.
The area under vegetables was 1,179 Ha with a production of 19,279 MT. The major
20
vegetables grown in order of value importance are; tomato, potato, spinach, kales, cabbage,
carrots, french beans, butter nut and pumpkin leaves.
Table 3.5: Vegetables grown in Embu County
Type of Vegetables Area in Ha Production in Value in Shillings
Tons
Tomato 265 9,070 127,700,000
Potato 275 4,265 118,700,000
Spinach 62 2,150 56,000,000
Kales 197 1,315 22,130,000
Cabbage 135 425 17,560,000
Carrots 70 560 16,500,000
French Beans 46 325 15,300,000
Butter Nut 44 508 7,975,000
Pumpkin Leaves 25 296 6,800,000
Broccoli 10 100 5,000,000
Pumpkin Fruit 10 114 4,040,000
Cowpea 20 85 850,000
Bell Pepper/Sweet Paper 7 21 420,000
Leaf Amaranth 11 31 390,000
African Nightshade 2 14 140,000
Total 1,179 19,279 399,505,000
In 2019, the value of MAPs production in the County amounted to KES 42.1 million. The
area under MAPSs was 137 Ha with a production of 937 MT. The major MAPs grown are;
Spring Onion/Green Shallots, Corriander, Rosemary, Basil and Long Cayenne Chilies.
Table 3.6: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) grown in Embu County
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Area in Ha Production in Value in
(MAPs) Tons Shillings
Spring Onion/Green Shallots 57 570 26,500,000
Bulb Onion 52 266 12,490,000
Corriander 3 15 600,000
Rosemary 5 21 590,000
Basil 1 8 480,000
Long Cayenne Chilies 2 13 400,000
Mint 1 5 375,000
Bullet Chilies 3 13 310,000
Moringa 6 12 120,000
21
Aloe 4 9 90,000
Jetropha 2 3 75,000
Lemon Grass 1 2 20,000
Total 137 937 42,050,000
Floriculture is a key sub-sector in the agriculture sector and a major contributor of foreign
exchange after diaspora, tourism and tea. The main flowers grown in Embu County are
Trachelium. In 2019, the value of Trachelium flowers produced in the County amounted
to Ksh 1.3 million. The area under flowers was 56 Ha with a production of 50 million MT.
Table 3.7: Flowers grown in Embu County

Type of Flowers Area in Ha Production in Tons Value in Shillings
Trachelium 56 50 1,260,000
Being an ASAL County, animal production is a key economic activity in Embu County.
Other than rearing the traditional livestock (i.e. cattle, goats and sheep), the County has
promoted poultry production and bee keeping (apiculture) among farming households in
the County. A lower percentage of farming households practice aquaculture.
Table 3.8: Distribution of households rearing livestock and fish by County and
Sub County
County/Sub Kenya Embu Embu Embu Embu Mbeere Mbeere
County East North West South North
Indigenous 3,337,700 80,171 19,095 9,773 11,173 23,551 16,579

Chicken
Goats 1,898,887 56,864 11,625 4,519 6,612 20,027 14,081
Indigenous cattle 2,260,439 32,172 4,669 1,551 2,402 14,638 8,912
Exotic cattle 939,916 23,852 9,087 7,012 5,180 1,226 1,347
-Dairy
Sheep 1,299,893 12,781 2,221 1,373 1,115 4,924 3,148
Beehives 201,406 11,926 2,159 976 1,131 4,040 3,620
Donkeys 500,682 8,069 12 3 43 5,376 2,635
Rabbits 124,122 7,297 2,293 1,567 1,582 1,058 797
Exotic cattle -Beef 167,625 5,700 2,026 1,593 1,414 424 243
Exotic Chicken 194,517 4,250 1,324 1,051 879 638 358
Layers
Pigs 110,383 2,404 545 616 900 161 182
22
Exotic Chicken 79,461 1,525 457 421 342 169 136

Broilers
Fish Ponds 22,019 549 159 84 141 88 77
Fish Cages 3,361 57 15 8 15 12 7
Camels 167,666 56 8 4 10 20 14
The above characterization of farming households highlights the priority value chain
opportunities in maize, beans, bananas, potatoes, green grams, kales, cassava, khat, coffee,
macadamia, mango, cattle, goats, sheep, poultry production and bee keeping (apiculture).
With majority of the households farming the identified products, the Embu transformation
strategy in agriculture need to prioritize value chains in the identified areas to positively
impact on households’ livelihoods.
Agri-Food Challenges in COVID-19
i) Human capital/employment levels – by gender
Agricultural labour participation in Embu indicates relative parity between females and
males with no strong dominance of either gender in the labour force. Majority of the
population in Embu are agricultural, fishery and related labourers. The workers in this
sub-major group include: Farm-hands and Related Labourers; Forestry Labourers; and
Fishery, Hunting and Trapping Labourers. The second most popular agriculture related
workers in the County are farm workers where the group covers occupations related to:
Field Crop, Vegetable and Horticultural Farm Workers; Poultry, Dairy and Livestock
Producers; and Crop and Animal Producers. The classifications are based on the Kenya
National Occupational Classification Standard (KNOCS).
Figure 3.2: Agriculture-related labour force participation
Source: KNBS Survey on Socio Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Households-Wave 2

An assessment of the COVID-19 effects on hours worked in agriculture related occupations
indicates workers in almost all the identified sub-sectors worked fewer hours in the
23
reference period as compared with the usual hours worked per week. The most affected
workers are the subsistence agricultural and fishery workers who recorded the highest
difference of 18 hours between the usual and actual hours worked in a week. The workers
in this sub-major group grow and harvest field or tree and shrub crops, grow vegetables
and fruit, tend or hunt animals, gather wild fruits and plants, catch fish and gather other
forms of aquatic life in order to provide food, shelter and a minimum of cash income for
themselves and their households.
Figure 3.3: Changes in hours worked by in agriculture related occupations

The identified COVID-19 effects on labour force participation are likely to have negative
effects on output thereby increasing yield gaps.
ii) Market channels and operations
Successful transformation of smallholder agricultural production in Embu County from

subsistence to an innovative, commercially oriented and modern agricultural sector,
as aspired in the national ASTGS, is dependent on the ability of the County market its
commodities both in domestic, regional and international markets.
As a result of COVID-19, there has been a further slow down on trade activities due to
the restrictions on movements. From the KNBS conducted between 30th May and 6th June
2020, 1.4 per cent of the households in Embu County indicated over the past 1 week there
24
had been instances where the household or a member of the household could not access the
markets/grocery stores to purchase food items.
Figure 3.4: Limited access to markets to purchase food items

Majority of the households indicated the key reasons for not accessing the markets/grocery
stores to purchase food items were closure of the markets/grocery stores (46.2%) and
transport limitations (45.6%).
Figure 3.5:Reason for limited access to markets/ grocery stores
Livestock trade has especially been majorly affected as traders are unable to take the
livestock to the market.
Restrictions affecting seamless movement of food commodities are likely to cause a hike
in prices in non-production areas and fall in prices in production areas. 87 per cent of
25
households in Embu County indicated that over the past 2 weeks from the reference period,
while 6 per cent indicated that they had not experienced a change in the prices.
Figure 3.6: Percentage of households experiencing change in food commodity
prices

On the magnitude of the price shocks, 50 per cent of the households indicated they faced a
large rise in food prices in the past two weeks from the reference period.
Figure 3.7: Proportion of households facing large food price shocks
26
Poor access to markets also hinders the ability to supply food to the population as shown
in the below figure.
Figure 3.8: Percentage of households reporting that the following food items
were not readily available in their locality
Source: KNBS Survey on Socio Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Households-

Wave 2
A key concern is that the food groups affected most are a nutritious food category-meat, fish
and eggs, which are necessary for boosting the immune system of the population.
Among the key strategies adopted by households to mitigate COVID-19 effects on food
consumption include relying on less preferred and less expensive foods (62.7%), purchase
food on credit or incurred debt (48.2%) and decreased buying some non-food products
(33.2%).
Figure 3.9: Percentage of households where the following strategies were
adopted for at least one day
27
Additional challenges, albeit at low levels, faced by the count during the COVID pandemic
period include: Desert locusts (0.6%); Floods/ Mudslides/ Landslides (0.1%); and Livestock
Diseases (1.0%).
Figure 3.10: Percentage of households who experienced the below shocks in
the past two weeks the KNBS Wave 2 survey
Agri-Food Constraints Faced in the County
Among the Key Constraints the County faces include:

(a) Variable and extreme weather events which have increased in frequency and intensity
over the years adversely affecting crop and livestock production
(b) Dependence of rain fed agriculture despite frequency in extreme climate conditions,
such as drought episodes, delayed and erratic rains among other climate shocks,
(c) Land fragmentation due to land sub-division which affects productivity as production
activities are becoming uneconomically viable.
(d) Low productivity due to subdivisions and traditional methods of farming, raising
concerns of food shortages
(e) Low productivity due to natural resource management
(f) Water scarcity which is a constraining factor that limits productivity for both crop
and livestock production
(g) Farmers low access to quality and affordable inputs including certified seeds, water,
animal feeds, artificial insemination (AI) services, fertilizers, livestock vaccination
and mechanized ploughing services by County tractor hire services.
(h) Low crops, livestock, and livestock products marketing opportunities necessary for
improved incomes
(i) Low commercialization of farming where majority of farmers practice farming for
subsistence purposes and as cultural practices.
(j) Low agro-processing and value addition opportunities among small scale
farmers
28
(k) Slow uptake of digital platforms to market agricultural produce.

(l) Pests and Livestock Diseases
(m) Slow uptake of digital platforms to market agricultural produce.
(n) Inadequate extension and veterinary services
(o) Inadequate and weak farmers’ associations and cooperative which hamper
agricultural marketing
(p) Farm losses and post-harvest waste.
3.2 Opportunities with COVID-19 in Agriculture sector
An assessment of the sector linkages to other sectors highlights that the sector
is enabled by:
(i) Businesses/ MSMEs: Businesses and MSMEs are crucial in providing inputs and
requirements to the agricultural sector. The sector would facilitate the efficient access
to
(ii) Transport, Storage and ICT sectors
(iii) Financial and insurance activities
(iv) Accommodation Food services
(v) Manufacturing: The manufacturing sector plays a crucial role in agro-processing.
Agricultural inputs also contribute to the processing of other manufacturing
commodities
The County has opportunities in:
(a) Developing County-private partnership in enhancing agro-processing and value
addition capacities; Construction of abattoirs; and Linking farmers to product
markets
(b) Expand/ exploit innovative marketing opportunities for farmers produce including
uptake of innovative marketing platforms, such as milk ATMs, so that farmers are not
exploited by middle men.
(c) Adoption of drought resistant livestock pastures/fodder and crops
(d) Adoption of fodder and feed conservation
(e) Scaling up conservation agriculture, post-harvest management, planting drought-
tolerant and early-maturing varieties, and agro-forestry.
(f) Enhanced water harvesting, sustainable and efficient irrigation.
(g) Increased livestock production through: - routine vaccination, deworming and
vector control to maintain animal health; decentralized veterinary services; disease
surveillance; storing and conserving pastures and fodder; capacity building on
animal management and training on preservation and value addition techniques;
and improved milking hygiene and animal housing.
29
(h) Adoption of natural resource management to include soil and water conservation,
tree planting, changing of crop type and water harvesting.
(i) Access to quality and affordable inputs including certified seedlings, AI services,
fertilizers, livestock vaccination, ploughing services by County tractor hire services.
The County government has ventured to reduce cost of farming inputs. It has
partnered with companies that manufacture seed to supply these seed to farmers at
subsidized cost
(j) Provision of storage and cooling facilities particularly at collection points to minimize
spoilage and post-harvest losses particularly for milk.
(k) Uptake of digital platforms to build capacities of farming households in modern
agricultural technologies and marketing of agricultural produce
(l) Enhance supportive services to include early-warning systems, credit, advisory and
information services through extension and training.
(m) Enhancing farmers technical capacities to act on advisory information received
(n) Improved crop and livestock emergencies surveillance systems in the County.
(o) Strengthening farmers’ associations and cooperatives as an additional solution to
marketing challenges
3.3 Emerging Issues
(i) Environmental degradation has reduced productive capacity of farms leading to

increased risks to food insecurity and reduced farmers income.
(ii) Climate change, manifested in increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather
conditions such as floods, droughts and pest invasion
3.4 Recommendations
To successfully build resilience and enhance growth of the agriculture sector, the
County will:
(i) Develop partnership with the National Government, NGOs, Development Partners,
Research Institutions and the Private sector in enhancing agro-processing and
value addition capacities of the County as envisioned in the national Agricultural
Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS). Some of the value addition processes
currently in place include 7 macadamia and 1 mango processing plants for exports.
The County projects to have a honey processing firm. There are also opportunities
in establishing, upgrading, and reviving agro-processing plants/industries in milk,
meat and leather processing plants.
(ii) In addition to agro-processing, provision of storage and cooling facilities particularly
at collection points to minimize spoilage and post-harvest losses.
(iii) Revive the agricultural sector especially coffee farming through enhanced
commercialization opportunities among small holder farmers in the County
30
by strengthening market linkages beyond the County level, domestically and

internationally, across the agricultural value chain.
(iv) Digitize the agri-food sector to support: - training and building capacities of
farming households in modern agricultural technologies, provision of advisory and
information services, marketing agricultural produce at a wider scope beyond the
County level, and improving access to innovative support services including credit
and insurance services.
(v) Enhance access to quality and affordable inputs including certified seeds, water,
animal feeds, artificial insemination (AI) services, fertilizers, livestock vaccination
and mechanized ploughing services by County tractor hire services.
(vi) Establish programmes for surveillance of disasters such as extreme weather
conditions, crop pest and diseases, and livestock disease at the County level equipped
with relevant technical specialists and finances to effectively prepare, respond and
prevent risks. There is also need for the County to mitigate disasters, such as those
related to floods, through institutional capacity development, vulnerability analyses
and updates, monitoring and early warning systems, and public education.
(vii) Build the capacity of farmers in adoption of modern farming technologies (such
as fodder establishments) and practices and adopt sustainable land management
practices to minimize environmental degradation. This can be done by establishing
model farms and Farmers Training Centre (ATC) in collaboration with development
partners as planned in the County’s 2018-2022 CIDP.
(viii) Strengthen agricultural cooperatives through effective stakeholder engagement
and implementation of interventions for more sustainable models of financing and
customized training of cooperative members.
31
4 Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
4.1 Characteristics of the sector
The main sources of drinking water in the county include rivers, dams, piped water,
boreholes, springs, wells and pans. The County is served by six major rivers; Thuci that
borders Tharaka- Nithi that borders, Tana that borders Machakos County, forms the
boundary to Kirinyaga County, Rupingazi forms the boundary to Kirinyaga, Thiba and
Ena. These major rivers originate from Mt. Kenya Forest in Manyatta and Runyenjes sub-
counties, 30.1 per cent of the population get water from rivers, 35 per cent from piped water
and 21 per cent from dug well. In Mbeere North and Mbeere South constituencies, 40.4 per
cent get water from rivers, 8.2 per cent from piped water, 23.7 per cent from dug wells and
10.9 per cent from boreholes.
On sanitation, majority of the people in the county use pit latrines for human waste disposal.
Of all urban centres in the county, only Embu has a sewage treatment plant that does not
have adequate capacity to serve the whole town.
Access to source of water by households
The major source of water for drinking utilized by households in the county is piped water
into the plot/yard (47.2 per cent), surface water at 18.8 per cent and piped water into
dwelling at 8.4 per cent. Majority of the rural (45.2%), urban (53.6 per cent) and peri-urban
(60%) households have access to piped water into the plot. In addition, there are larger
proportions of urban households (33.1%) have access to piped water into the dwelling. On
the other hand, both male (45%) and female (45.8%) headed households also rely on piped
water into the plot/yard. Only a small portion of the households relies on water from dug
wells, tube well as well as rainwater.
32
Water, sanitation, and hygiene
Figure 4.1: Access to sources of water by households
KNBS 2015/2016
Combating COVID-19 pandemic has already placed high demand for water for both
domestic usage in households, health care institutions, learning institutions, marketplaces
and other public places. Water also remains important to other sectors of the economy such
as agriculture and industrial usage, among others. With the planned re-opening of schools
and upcoming low rain seasons means that the pressure on water resources will be high,
this therefore means that the demand for water will be high and if the supply will be low,
households are likely to fail to observe COVID-19 prevention measures of hand washing
which may in turn lead to high transmission of COVID-19.
To ensure continuity of quality water supply, there is need for the county to invest in water
harvesting and storage facilities both at household and institutional level, this may include
supporting schools in building rain harvesting and storage structures in schools from the
school structure rooftops, supporting households in rainwater harvesting during rainfall
times. Other interventions may include digging boreholes, supply of water to households
that experiences water scarcity. Therefore, for equality in access to water the county
government can waive or reduce the water bills for urban households who uses piped water
as well as support water vendors in access to clean safe water at a reduced cost. This will
mean financial support to water service companies. Other long-term measures include
inclusion of both rural, urban, and peri-urban dwellers into decision making in regard to
water management and governance.
33
Clean and safe water is essential for good health and goes a long way in ensuring reduced
infections. Access to improved sources of drinking water2 is high among households (70.6
per cent) both in rural (57.3 per cent) urban areas (91.1 per cent) and peri urban (79.9 per
cent). Additionally, both male and female headed households have low access to improved
drinking water source as shown in the figure below.
Figure 4.2: Access to improved and unimproved sources of water by households
Source: KNBS 2015/2016
Inequalities in access to safe and clean drinking water may put households at risk of
contracting infectious diseases as well as make the households less observance of COVID-19
measures of hand hygiene. One mitigation measure that may be undertaken by the county
to increase access to improved water source, include connecting the households with
piped water, increase the development of improved sources of water especially in rural
areas. Long term measure to support access to water all households is to have both male
and female headed households to be part of water management/governance team and in
decision making in water management.
Other important consideration is to have separate water drinking point for livestock,
different from the household water drinking water sources to minimize water contamination
as well as conflict over water resource. Other long-term measures is to avoid agricultural
activities along the upstream to minimize water pollution.
Volumes for water used by households in the past one month
Most households (23 per cent), rural (23.8 per cent) and urban (22 per cent) used between
2 Improved source of drinking water includes; water from the following sources Piped water - piped
into dwelling, Piped water - piped into plot/yard, Piped water - public tap/stand pipe, Tubewell/bore-
hole with pump, Dug well - protected well, Dug well - unprotected well, Water from spring - protected
spring). While unimproved sources of water include water from spring - unprotected spring, Rainwa-
ter collection, Vendors - tankers-truck, Vendors - cart with small tank/drum/bucket, Vendors-bicycles
with bucket, Surface water, river/streams/pond/dam/lake/cannal/irrigation channel Bottled water.
This is according to the WHO and UN classification of sources of water.
34
1000-1999 litres of water per month. Further, more female (32 per cent) than male (23.4
per cent) has used between 1000 to 1999 litres of water.
Figure 4.3: Volumes of water used by households in the past month
Figure 4.3 shows that most households utilize large volumes of water on a monthly
basis, with the planned re-opening of schools it means more water will be needed by the
institutions. Water remains a scarce commodity and in places or months where water is
scarce, this may have an effect on families and hinder them from observing COVID-19
prevention guidelines. Correct utilizations of water resources should be emphasized at
households’ level, similarly, there is need for conservation of water catchment areas.
Distance covered by households to and from water source
Majority of the households (90.8 per cent) both rural, urban and peri-urban covers less
than 100 metres to water sources meaning they have water within their premises or close
to their compounds (See the figure below).
35
Figure 4.4: Access to water sources by distance
If water is available to households, schools, health institutions within the shortest distances
possible, it easily encourages observing hand hygiene thus minimizing infections. In
learning institutions, it minimizes rates of school dropouts among girls. Women headed
households are disadvantaged in access to drinking water within shortest distances and this
may make them vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 as well as other infectious diseases.
To support hand hygiene among households there is need to have water supply closer to
households headed by women.
Access and reliability of water sources
Majority of households (65.2%) in the county relies on the main source of drink water all
year round. Most households (88.1 per cent) go to fetch drinking water from the sources
per day, this is more among urban (80 per cent) and peri-urban (76.5%) compared to rural
(66%) household. This means there may be more of interactions with other household
members in areas where water sources are shared, this may lead to increase on infections
of COVID-19 where COVID-19 guidelines of social distance and avoidance of crowded place
may not be observed. It also implies that households may not be having water enough
water storage facilities that can minimize number of rips to water points in a day putting
them at risk of water shortages as well as saving on time for other economic activities.
36
Figure 4.5: Access and reliability to water sources by households

Top interventions are protection of the existing major water sources for households and
development of new water sources, this may include rainwater harvesting at individual and
institutional level. Protection of water catchment areas.
Access to sanitation
Majority of the households (77.4%) as well those in rural (81.8%), urban (49.5 and peri-
urban (65.3%) areas use pit latrine with slab. Further small proportions of urban households
(31.4%) flush to septic tank as well as flush to piped sewer (14.8%)
Figure 4.6: Access to sanitation in Embu County
37
Access to improved and unimproved sanitation
Majority of the households (96%) have access to improved sanitation facilities3. This is also
similar among rural (78%) and urban (100%) headed households. Improved sanitation is
also high among male and female headed households as shown in the figure below.
Figure 4.7: Access to improved and unimproved sanitation by households
Sharing of a toilet facility
Additionally, small proportions of the households (30.9%) do share a toilet facility with
other households, this is more in urban (57.7%) compared to peri-urban (33%). On the
other hand, most households (69.9%) share a toilet facility with more than 20 households
(male headed households 70.3% and female-headed households 45%).
3 Improved sanitation includes; flush to piped sewer, flush to septic tank, flush to pit (latrine), flush
to somewhere else, flush to unknown place, ventilated improved pit latrine, pit latrine with slab,
pit latrine without slab). Unimproved sanitation includes; composting toilet, bucket toilet, hanging
toilet/hanging, no facility/bush/field, others
38
Figure 4.8: Number of households sharing a toilet facility

Sharing of toilet facilities with large number of households puts individuals at risk of
contracting COVID-19, and other infectious diseases in cases where proper hygiene is
not maintained as well as social distancing measures. Similarly, WHO guidelines require
separate sanitation facilities for suspected COVID-19 cases which households may not be
able to achieve
Access to WASH during the COVID-19 period
WASH has been identified very important in helping to curb transmission of infectious
diseases, currently most households (83.6 per cent) do not have a handwashing facility
in their households. Despite this most households (68.7 per cent) have access to WASH
(Water and soap) during this period of COVID-19. This is more among male (74.9%) than
female (43.8%) headed households. Additional 27.7 per cent of the households having
access to both water, soap, and hand sanitizer.
Figure 4.9: Access to water and sanitation during the COVID-19 period
Source: KNBS KIHBS 2015/2016 Source: KNBS COVID-19 wave 2, 2020

More of hand washing should be emphasized especially to those who are not observing
hand hygiene to help decrease the spread of the virus, this should be facilitated by provision
of water, soap/hand sanitizer to households.
39
4.2 Opportunities with COVID-19 in Water and Sanitation Sectors
COVID-19 has highlighted the need to maintain a clean safe water, proper sanitation and
hand hygiene which places more demand on water and therefore the county needs to
leverage on lessons learned from COVID-19 by improving its water and sanitation coverage.
4.3 Emerging Issues
The County has provided wash taps within shops in the town centre as well as handwashing
facilities in County and sub-County offices. The county has undertaken a distribution of
water tanks, water and soaps at points of entry as well as developed hand washing booths
in the informal settlements. The booths are made by students from the TVET institutions
Key messages
Frequent and correct hand hygiene has been emphasized by WHO as one of the measures
to curb transmission of COVID-19. This has placed a higher demand for water more so
at the households, health care facilities, marketplaces, public places and among essential
services provides.
(i) Most households in the county have higher access to improved sources of water
both in rural (66.7%), urban (91.1%) and peri urban (81.9%). Clean and safe water
guarantees good health leading to low health expenditures among households.
(ii) There is a higher access to piped water both in rural (53%), urban (91%) and peri-
urban areas (73%). This means more revenue from piped water for the county
government. Similarly, it also implies high access to clean and safe water which is
guaranteed through piped water system.
(iii) Access to improved sanitation remains high in the county both in rural (99.3%),
urban (100%) and peri-urban households (100%).
(iv) Sharing of a toilet facility with other households is common among households, this
is more in urban (57.7%) and peri-urban (33.1%) compared to rural areas (27.4%).
Toilet sharing puts households at risk of contracting COVID-19, and other infectious
diseases in cases where proper toilet hygiene is not maintained.
(v) There is a higher access to hand washing, with majority of households in urban
(44.7%) having access to a place for hand washing. Access to WASH (water and soap)
27.7 per cent of the households had access to both water, soap and hand sanitizer
during this period of COVID-19. This minimizes the risks of infections.
(vi) The most commonly used sources of energy for cooking by households are firewood
(80.1 per cent) and followed closely by liquified (6.9%).
(vii) Furthermore, most households dispose their households solid waste in the compound
(42.5%), burnt in the open (25.4%) and dumped in the latrine
(viii) Further only 7 per cent of the household solid waste is collected by the county
government for disposal, while a small percentage is collected by private companies
for safe disposal. This means that only a small portion of household solid waste
40
is safely disposed, thus exposing many households to environmental and health

hazards.
(ix) Further, a number of households (22.18%) in the county had experience droughts or
floods in the past year.
4.4 Recommendations
To ensure continuous availability of water, the county can undertake the following:
(i) Increase water supply in households, institutions and public places through
drilling of boreholes in all the sub-counties.
(ii) Increase water storage capacity to store harvested water during rainy seasons.
(iii) Expand/increase water supply though construction of Dams, Treatments Plants,
drilling of boreholes and rainwater harvesting.
(iv) Promote partnership with Private Sector and Non-State Actors in water resource
provision and management.
(v) Fast track and rehabilitate stalled water project .
(vi) Promote good governance on water resource management Increasing investment
in development and maintenance of water harvesting structures.
(vii) Develop effective human resources for the water sector to ensure quality water
and sanitation service provision.
(viii) Promoting adoption of appropriate technologies in protection and conservation of
catchment areas.
(ix) The county to work with other stakeholders to undertake water resources
management.
(x) Strengthening and supporting community institutions including Water Users
Associations (WRUAs), Community Forest Associations, farmers groups among
others, in catchment conservation and protection.
(xi) Gazette wetlands as public land to prevent encroachment.
(xii) Rehabilitate the water catchment areas.
(xiii) Rehabilitate existing water infrastructure to reduce water leakages to reduce
water losses.
(xiv) Upscale abstraction of water from rivers, spring protections, harvesting of
rainwater from roof and other catchments to help achieve increase to water access.
(xv) Introduce automated billing software to help curb the increasing value of non-
revenue water.
(xvi) Undertake water trucking during times of prolonged drought and emergencies to
affected households.
(xvii) Establish water supply monitoring system for efficiency water supply and
management.
41
(xviii) Expand and rehabilitate the existing piped water connection infrastructure to
help increase access to water.
(xix) Develop and implement wastewater management strategy.
xx. Expand sewer infrastructure to accommodate more households.
(xxi) Support the implementation of Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS)
initiatives.
(xxii) Create public awareness on the importance of connecting to sewer system.
(xxiii) Provide personal protective equipment to staff working in water and sanitation
sector for maximum safety and uninterrupted service delivery during this period
of COVID-19.
(xxiv) Improve access to safe and improved toilets in schools, health care facilities,
workplaces and public places.
(xxv) Enforce the WASH regulation of having toilets in all public facilities such as
supermarkets, hotels and banks, among others.
(xxvi) Sensitize the public on the importance of WASH.
(xxvii) Promote the importance of handwashing and construct WASH facilities to
increase access at the household level.
(xxviii) The county to organize sensitization forums on the importance of handwashing
through the media and in community forums.
(xxix) Inculcate a culture of hand hygiene in the county.
42
5 Manufacturing, Trade and MSMEs
5.1 Characteristics of Manufacturing Sector
Embu County had 3,771 establishments involved in manufacturing activities which

comprise of 15.8 per cent of a total of 23,826 firms (KNBS, 2016). In terms of size, 3,353
(88.9%) are micro, 191 (5.1%) are small and 227 (6%) are medium. The main drivers of
the economy of the county include services (48%), agriculture (38%), and manufacturing
(2.4%) (GCP, 2019).
Figure 5.1: Sector of operation in manufacturing
Source: KNBS (2016)

From the KNBS, 2016 survey, the key sub-sectors that drive manufacturing to include:
wearing apparel (30.2%), food products (28.3%), furniture (23%), and Fabricated metal
products, except machinery and equipment (14.4%) (Figure 5.1). These are fundamental
sub-sectors when it comes dealing with effects of COVID-19 and therefore experienced
increased activity with focus on food production, production of Personal Protective
Equipment (PPEs) and hospital beds. The key products useful in value addition and driving
manufacturing include: tree tomato, avocado, bananas, loquat, passion fruit, mangoes,
macadamia, tea, coffee. Large industries and factories driving manufacturing sector in the
County are involved in tea, coffee, milk processing, saw-mills, hydro-power generation,
bakeries, and grain milling.
Sector of operation by size
Most establishments in Embu County are micro in nature and operate in the wearing
apparel (30.2%), furniture (22.2%), fabricated metal products except machinery and
equipment (14.4%) among others (Figure 5.2). Small sized establishments operate in food
43
products (4.2%) and furniture (0.9%). Moreover, medium enterprises operate mainly in
food products (6.1%).
Figure 5.2: Manufacturing firms by sector and size
Source: KNBS (2016)
Location of manufacturing firms by type of premises
Common premises used by manufacturing firms in Embu County are commercial (35.7%),
market stall (35.4%), industrial site (7.8%), and open market (7.2%) (Figure 5.3).
Figure 5.3: Location of manufacturing firms by premises
Source: KNBS (2016)
Distribution of manufacturing firms by gender and size
Manufacturing establishments in Embu County are dominantly owned by male (53.5%),

with females comprising 25.6 per cent while 20.9 per cent are jointly owned. In terms of
micro-sized firms, 56.8 per cent are male owned, 28.8 per cent female owned and 14.4 per
44
Manufacturing , trade and MSMEs
cent jointly owned. Small sized firms are largely male owned (59.6%) while the rest are
jointly owned (40.4%) (Table 5.1).
Table 5.1: Distribution of manufacturing firms by gender and size -N (%)
Gender A11 Micro Small Medium

Male 2,018 (53.5) 1,904 (56.8) 114 (59.6) 0 (0)
Female 966 (25.6) 966 (28.8) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Joint 787 (20.9) 482 (14.4) 77 (40.4) 227(100)
Total 3,771 (100) 3,353 (100) 66 (100) 227(100)
Source: KNBS (2016)
Distribution of Manufacturing firms by gender and sector
Most sub-sectors in manufacturing are male dominated including wearing furniture

(19.4%), fabricated metal products except machinery and equipment (12.5%), food
products (11.9%) and wearing apparel (6.5%). Females are mostly found in the wearing
apparel (23.7%) and food products (2.4%). There is also joint ownership in food products
(14.0%), and furniture (3.7) (Figure 5.4).
Figure 5.4: Distribution of manufacturing firms by gender and sector
Source: KNBS (2016)
In terms of employment, the manufacturing sector employs more men (66.5%) than women
(33.5%). Most men are found in the medium-sized enterprises (42.3%) while 16.5 per cent
are in micro-sized establishments. Majority of the women are mostly in the medium micro
enterprises (24.6%) (Table 5.2).
45
Table 5.2: Employment by gender and size for manufacturing firms

Number of
Micro Total
employees Small Medium
Male 4,871 (16.5) 2,252 (7.6) 12,481(42.3) 19,605 (66.5)
Female 1,904 (6.5) 725 (2.5) 7,262 (24.6) 9,891 (33.5)
Total 6,775 (100) 2,977 (23) 19,743 (66.9) 29,496 (100)
Source: KNBS (2016)
Education levels of manufacturing firm owners
Majority of owners of firms in manufacturing have primary (46.3%), secondary (29.1%),

and mid-level college diploma or certificate education (12.2%) (Figure 5.5).
Figure 5.5: Education levels of manufacturing firm owners
Source: KNBS (2016)
Source of markets
Most manufacturing enterprises and MSMEs in general rely on individual consumers

for markets at 91.8 per cent and 92.5 per cent, respectively (Figure 5.6). MSMEs and
non-MSMEs are also important sources of markets for these two sectors. Moreover,
manufacturing firms and MSMEs are also involved in direct exports at 2 per cent and 0.9
per cent, respectively.
46
Figure 5.6: Source of markets
Source: KNBS (2016)
Source of material inputs

Overall, manufacturing establishments and MSMEs source for material inputs from
amongst individual suppliers at 40.2 per cent and 38.9 per cent, respectively (Figure 5.7).
MSMEs and non-MSMEs are also important to the supply of inputs. Direct imports are not
a major source of inputs for both manufacturing firms and MSMEs (Figure 5.7). Therefore,
disruptions in the external source markets may not necessarily have adverse implications
to manufacturing and MSME operations in Embu County.
Figure 5.7: Source of material inputs
Source: KNBS (2016)
Level of innovation by firms in Manufacturing
Manufacturing establishments in Embu County were involved in both product, process and
market innovations. More market innovations are seen under the micro category at 16.4
per cent, product 14.7 per cent and process 13.1 per cent. Fewer innovations are observed
in the small category at a rate of 1.4 per cent for product and process and 3.6 per cent for
market innovations respectively (Table 5.3).
47
Table 5.3: Level of innovation by firms in manufacturing
Type of Micro Small Medium

Total
innovation Don’t know No Yes No Yes No Yes
2,797 556 136 54 227
Product 0 (0) 0 (0) 3,771 (100)
(74.2) (14.7) (3.6) (1.4) (6)
2,860 493 136 54 227
Process 0 (0) 0 (0) 3,771 (100)
(75.8) (13.1) (3.6) (1.4) (6)
2,735 618 134 227
Market 0 (0) 57 (1.5) 0 (0) 3,771 (100)
(72.5) (16.4) (3.6) (6)
Source: KNBS (2016)
Access to credit for Manufacturing and MSMEs firms
According to the MSME 2016 survey, 66.3 per cent of MSMEs and 48.5 per cent of those
in manufacturing applied for credit. The key sources of credit for establishments in
manufacturing include microfinance institutions (34%), commercial banks (27.5%), self
help groups (11.7%), and rotating saving and credit associations (8.2%). MSMEs largely
rely on micro finance institutions (34%), commercial banks (25.5%), self help groups
(16.1%), and SACCOs (13.1%) (Figure 5.8).
Figure 5.8: Sources of finance
Source: KNBS (2016)

Recent evidence from FinAcess 2019 provides further insights on sources of credit for
businesses in Embu County. Businesses commonly obtain credit from the conventional
sources such as family/neighbour 11.1 per cent), shops (10.9%), personal/business loans
from banks (6.3%), SACCOs (3%), and groups/chama (0.9%). Emerging sources of credit
for businesses in Embu county include digital loans (5%) (figure 5.9).
48
Figure 5.9: Recent sources of credit
Source: FinAcess (2019)
Purpose of credit
Figure 5.10 presents the main purpose of credit by both MSMEs and firms in manufacturing.
In general, manufacturing firms require credit for: working capital (34.2%), business
refurbishment (30.4%), and purchase of inventory (25.4%). MSMEs in Embu County
require credit for business refurbishment (35.2%), working capital (30.6%), and purchase
of inventory (25.4%).
Figure 5.10: Main purpose of credit
Source: KNBS (2016)
49
Constraints faced by manufacturing firms
The main constraints faced by establishments in manufacturing include: lack of markets

(20.8%), licenses (17.8%), local competition (12.5%), poor roads/transport (9.4%), poor
security (3.5%), and power interruption (3.4%) (Figure 5.11). There were also no industrial
parks in Embu County.
Figure 5.11: Constraints faced by manufacturing firms
Source: KNBS (2016)
b) Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
Embu County has 23,826 establishments4 with 22,218 (93.2%) being micro; 1,326 (5.4%)
are small; and 282 (1.2%) are medium enterprises (KNBS, 2016) (Figure 5.12).
Figure 5.12: Distribution of MSMEs by size
Source: KNBS (2016)
4 After applying weights
50
Sector of operation by MSMEs
Majority of MSMEs in Embu County operate in the wholesale and retail trade; repair of
motor vehicles and motorcycles (58.2%), manufacturing (15.8%), accommodation and food
services (10.6%), and arts, entertainment and recreation (6.7%) (Figure 5.13). Generally,
these are the sectors that have been worst hit by the pandemic and need focus in achieving
re-engineering and recovery.
Figure 5.13: Sector of operation by MSMEs
Source: KNBS (2016)
Location of the businesses by type of premises
MSMEs in Embu County are largely located in commercial premises (46.8%), market stalls
(29.9%), and residential with special outfit (5.5%) (Figure 5.14). Majority of the businesses
in the county could be having many difficulties in meeting their rental obligations due
income disruptions occasioned by COVID-19. According to the May 2020 KNBS COVID-19
survey, 95.1 per cent of the non-farm businesses attributed non-payment of household
rental obligations to reduced incomes/earnings while 4.9 per cent attributed the same
to delayed incomes/earnings. For those involved in farm businesses, all the respondents
attributed the same to reduced incomes/earnings.
Figure 5.14: Location of businesses by premises
Source: KNBS (2016)

51
Distribution of MSMEs by gender and size
Table 5.4 shows the distribution of MSMEs in Embu County by gender: 44.3 per cent are
male owned, 32.7 per cent are female owned, while 23 per cent are jointly owned (male/
female). For Micro establishments, 48.3 per cent are male owned, 35.1 per cent are female
owned, while 21.1 per cent are jointly owned. Male owners also dominate ownership
among small sized establishments at 56.5 per cent, while 43.6 per cent are jointly owned.
Considering medium sized establishments, ownership is either jointly owned (80.4%) or
controlled by males (19.6%).
Table 5.4: Distribution of MSMEs by gender and size- N (%)
Gender A11 Micro Small Medium

10,544 9,740 749 55
Male (44.3) (43.8) (56.5) (19.6)
7,794 7,794
Female (32.7) (35.1) 0 (0) 0 (0)
5,488 4,683 578 227
Joint (23) (21.1) (43.6) (80.4)
23,826 22,218 1,326 282
Total (100) (100) (100) (100)
Source: KNBS, 2016
In terms of employment, the micro sized establishments employ more people (55.4%)
compared to small (21.1%), and medium (23.5%) (Table 5.5). Micro firms employ 31.2 per
cent male and 24.2 per cent female and small sized employ 14.1 per cent male and 7 per cent
female. Equally, more men are employed among medium establishments at 15 per cent
while females include 8.5 per cent, respectively. Overall, more men (60.3%) are employed
by MSMEs in Embu County than women (39.7%) are.
Table 5.5: Employment by gender and size -N (per cent)
Gender Micro Small Medium Total
Male 30,099 (31.2) 13,615 (14.1) 58,136 (60.3)

14,422 (15)
Female 23,310 (24.2) 6,769 (7) 38,283 (39.7)

8,205 (8.5)
22,627
Total 53,409 (55.4) 20,384 (21.1) 96,420 (100)
(23.5)
Source: KNBS (2016)
52
Education levels of MSME owners
Figure 38 indicates that majority of MSME owners in Embu County have a secondary
education (38.4%) while 33 per cent have primary and 15.3 per cent mid-level college
diploma or certificate, 8.9 per cent degree education, respectively (Figure 5.15).
Figure 5.15: Education levels of MSME owners
Source: KNBS (2016)
Level of innovation by MSMEs
Table 5.6 presents the levels of innovation in Embu County by MSMEs according to size.
Overall, there were low levels of innovation across MSMEs with 19.8 per cent involved in
product, 19.8 per cent for process, and 19.8 per cent in market innovation for micro-sized
enterprises. Regarding small-sized enterprises, 1.2 per cent engaged in product, 1.2 per
cent process and 1.2 per cent market innovation innovations, respectively.
Table 5.6: Level of innovation by MSMEs
Micro Small Medium
Type
of In- Re-
Re- Total
nova- Don’t fused Don’t
fused to No Yes No Yes No Yes
tion know to know
answer
answer
Prod- 273 17,200 4,710 124 907 296 227 3,273
0 (0) 0 (0) 00
uct (1.1) (72.5) (19.8) (0.5) (3.8) (1.2) (1) (100)
Pro- 273 17,200 4,710 124 907 296 227 3,273
0 (0) 0 (0) 00
cess (1.1) (72.5) (19.8) (0.5) (3.8) (1.2) (1) (100)
273 17,200 4,710 124 907 296 227 3,273
Market 0 (0) 0 (0) 00
(1.1) (72.5) (19.8) (0.5) (3.8) (1.2) (1) (100)
Source: KNBS (2016)
53
E-commerce
Participation in e-commerce by households in Embu County is below the national average.

About 2.3 per cent of the households participate in online e-commerce which is below
a national average of 4.3 per cent (KPHC 2019). In comparison, men participate more
in online e-commerce (2.7%) than women (2.3%). With introduction of stay-at-home
protocols due to COVID-19 online trade has been expected to thrive, little may be impacted
in Embu County since fewer households participate in the same.
Turnover tax
Only 14.4 per cent of MSMEs in Embu County (3,442) had a previous monthly turnover
of above Ksh 83,333, which translates to Ksh 1 million a year. Ideally, this would be
the establishments that are eligible for turnover tax with the new thresholds recently
introduced vide the tax laws (Amendment) Act, 2020. The actual impact of this move may
be difficult to estimate due to data challenges on actual revenue streams and the number of
establishments that comply with the same.
5.2 Emerging Issues and Constraints faced by MSMEs
The main constraints faced by MSMEs in Embu County include: local competition (15.5%),
licences (13.9%), poor roads/transport (12.4%), lack of markets (8.2%), and poor security
(4.6%) (Figure 5.16).
Figure 5.16: Main constraints faced by MSMEs
Source: KNBS (2016)

A study on County Business Environment for MSEs (CBEM) identified other constraints
faced by MSMEs in Embu County as: financial and technical capacity, market environment,
and worksite and related infrastructure (KIPPRA 2019 and 2022). On worksites, MSEs
face inadequate and unequipped worksites, lack of public toilet facilities, lack designated
areas for waste disposal, poor road infrastructure, frequent power interruptions. On
technical capacity MSEs are characterised by low levels of innovation, lack of training and
54
apprenticeship programme for artisans, fragmentation due to multiplicity of players who

offer training and capacity building, and lack of monitoring and evaluation of training
programmes. With the market environment, MSEs face inadequate market for their local
products; stiff competition among themselves; and unfair trade practices which manifest
through; contract enforcement, counterfeiting, dumping (substandard goods) and
misrepresentation (through weight, price, ingredient). MSEs also face bottlenecks related
to; insecurity; multiple licenses and permits; numerous procedures for obtaining licenses;
and shortage of raw materials.
Effects of COVID-19 on household non-farm and farm businesses
Figure 5.17 presents the effects of COVID-19 on household non-farm and farm businesses
in Embu County. 100 per cent of the respondents reported a decrease in their business
activities due to the pandemic, hence they were all affected. Equally, 100 per cent of the
respondents have had a decrease in their income due to COVID-19. This is an indicator that
COVID-19 is already having a negative effect on the non-farm and farm businesses even
though the situation is still evolving.
Figure 5.17: Effects of COVID-19 on household non-farm and farm businesses
Source: KNBS, COVID-19 Survey 2020 Labour dynamics

During the period considered in KNBS, COVID_19 Survey 2020, respondents reported
a decrease in 30 hours in the mean working hours for household non-farm and farm
businesses in Embu County which implies a decrease in economic activities between
the interview periods (figure 5.18). This could be as a result of services, agriculture and
manufacturing activities considering this considerably form the main stay of the County.
55
Figure 5.18: Labour dynamics on household non-farm and farm businesses
Source: KNBS, COVID_19 Survey 2020
The survey also indicates the wholesale and retail trade sector lost 13.1 hours in usual
and actual hours worked while accommodation and food services lost 10 hours. This is
an indicator of the adverse effects of the pandemic on the service sector of Embu County
implying loss of productivity, output and employment. Equally, the manufacturing sector
was hard hit losing 33.5 hours.
Key Messages:
(a) The key sectors that drive Embu County economy include: Services, Agriculture
and Manufacturing. Hence, support should be targeted to these sectors to ensure re-
engineering of the County economy.
(b) The main constraints faced by establishments in manufacturing include: lack of
markets, licenses, local competition, poor roads/transport, poor security and power
interruption
(c) The key constraints faced by MSMEs in Embu County include: local competition,
licences, poor roads/transport, lack of markets, and poor security.
(d) COVID-19 presented opportunities that could be harnessed like development
and support of innovations to address the pandemic. These include production
of essential goods such as; masks, Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), and
sanitizers, disinfectants, canned foods, immunity boosting products, hospital
beds and ventilators. As the pandemic subsidies a strategy is required for smooth
transition.
(e) Training and capacity building are important in assisting MSMEs to surmount the
shocks faced during the pandemic but also allow for re-emergence.
(f) In terms of re-engineering, there is need to consider establishing support measures to
re-vitalize and re-open businesses that collapsed during the crisis within the county.
56
5.3 Opportunities with COVID-19 in Industrial Recovery and Growth
The following are some of the opportunities created by COVID-19 in trade, manufacturing
and the MSMEs sector:
(i) Agro - processing for value addition with important areas of focus include horticulture,
maize production and processing, and dairy production; other areas of priority
include tree tomato, avocado, bananas, loquat, passion fruit, mangoes, macadamia,
tea, and coffee.
(ii) The textile and wearing apparel sectors can be enhanced to provide PPEs for use
within the County and potentially for the export market.
(iii) There are opportunities to step up innovations among the manufacturing firms and
MSMEs in Embu County.
(iv) COVID-19 has increased demand for locally produced goods. It is an opportunity for
industry and MSMEs development and generation of jobs for the youth.
5.4 Recommendations
To support trade, manufacturing and the MSMEs sector, the County will:
(i) Develop a land development strategy that safeguards the high potential agricultural
land by setting the urban growth limits to preserve the high potential areas and
regulate the subdivision of this land.
(ii) Develop urban-based agro-industries in Embu town to focus on proximity to
agricultural raw materials and promote agricultural value addition.
(iii) Promote rural development through provision of infrastructure and agricultural
sector development and related economic activities.
(iv) Enhance agricultural production by intensifying the use of the land.
57
6. Infrastructure
6.1 Transport Sector
6.1.1 Characteristics of the Sector
Majority of households own a bicycle (17.5%) and a motorcycle (13.9%). Car ownership is
at 6.6 per cent (KNBS, 2019). The main means of transport used in the county is walking
at 44.61 per cent, followed by motorbike 22.79 per cent, PSV matatus at 20.35 per cent,
bicycle (boda boda) 6.49 per cent and private car at 4.22 per cent (Figure 6.1) while 69.95
per cent of the population had not changed the main means of transport (KNBS, 2020b). On
average, residents travel 4.2 kilometres to their workplace at an average cost of Ksh 70.37.
For the commute to school, residents spend on average Ksh 554.41 (KIHBS, 2015/16).
Figure 6.1: Main means of transport
Source: KNBS COVID-19 Impact Survey 2020

The KNBS COVID-19 Impact Survey 2020 revealed that 75.98 per cent of the population
reported a change in the cost of travel/commute, figure 6.2. The expenditure on transport
increased by 61.43 per cent from Ksh 70 before February 2020 to Ksh 113 in May 2020 for a
one-way trip. The main change (91.83%) in transport cost was attributed to increased fares
for PSV, BodaBoda and TukTuk.
58
Infrastructure
Figure 6.2: How has the cost of your MAIN travel changed?
Source: KNBS COVID-19 Impact Survey 2020-wave 2

Residents had changed their travel patterns with 32 per cent of the population travelling
less often, while 9.76 per cent travelled with the same frequency but with some difficulty,
and 21.61 per cent were unable to travel. However, 1.53 per cent of the population did not
change their travel pattern, figure 6.3.
Figure 6.3: Change in travel patterns

The pandemic has affected delivery of goods and services for 25.25 per cent of households.
59
Figure 6.4: Has delivery of your household goods and services been affected
by COVID-19?

The county was allocated a total of Ksh 163,522,813 from the Road Maintenance Levy Fund
towards road maintenance in the Financial 2017/18 (OCOB, 2019).
Road network
The county has a total of 3,993.42 kilometres of classified road network. The paved County
road network covers 56.09 km, while the paved National roads cover 239.17 km. Out of the
total paved road network of 295.26 km, 84.4 per cent is in good condition, 9.7 per cent in
fair condition and 4.7 per cent in poor condition. The unpaved road network in the county
covers 2599.59 km (county roads) and 311.17 km (National roads), of this, 22.4 per cent
is in good condition, 48.9 per cent fair and 28.4 per cent in poor condition as depicted in
figure 1 (KRB, 2019).
Figure 6.5: Road condition mix-classified road network
Source: KRB (2019)
60
Infrastructure
The unclassified road network in the County covers 787.13 km, with 747.07 km of narrow
roads, that is, road with a reserve of between 4 -9 meters, while there is a total of 40.06 km
of new roads.
Constraints faced
The Rural Access Index (RAI) measures the proportion of the rural population who live
within 2 km of an all-season road5. The county has a RAI of 77 per cent which is above
the National Average of 70 per cent, indicating that access to transport in rural areas is
above average (KRB,2019). This has positive implications with regard to sectors that rely
on accessibility such as agriculture, trade and overall development. The road condition mix
of the unpaved network at 28.4 per cent is a constraint to development.
Linkages to other sectors
Transport has linkages in providing accessibility to the agriculture sector for inputs and
market access.
6.1.2 Opportunities in Infrastructure
The county has the opportunity to strategically improve the road network for economic
development, while creating jobs for youth, women and vulnerable groups as espoused in
the Roads 2000 programme6 on labour based road development approaches.
The Roads 10,000 programme being implemented nationally by the roads sub-sector
actors, and specifically, the Low Volume Sealed Roads (LVSR) approach7 offers a strategic
and cost-effective approach to improve rural accessibility in the County.
Residents predominantly rely on matatu walking and motorbike this is an opportunity
during the pandemic period as this mode reduces the risk of infections that would arise
from use of motorized public transport8.
6.1.3 Emerging Issues
• Poor road conditions for unpaved road network.
5
RAI defined : https://datacatalog.worldbank.org/dataset/rural-access-index-rai
6
Roads 2000 programme http://krb.go.ke/our-downloads/roadsper cent202000per cent20strate-
gicper cent20plan.pdf
7
LVSR /Roads 10,000 programme https://www.kerra.go.ke/index.php/lvsr
8
Non-Motorized Transport strategy https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/05/cities-support-
people-walking-and-cycling-work/
61
6.1.4 Recommendations
(i) Sensitize PSV and boda boda operators on COVID-19 prevention measures and
assist vehicle owners in retrofitting vehicle designs for social distance, hygiene and
ventilation.
(ii) Improve and expand infrastructure for Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) in urban
areas and along roads with heavy -high speed traffic to promote sustainable mobility
options and enhance road safety for all road users. This is in line with the Integrated
National Transport Policy 2009 and the Sustainable Development Goals9.
(iii) Re-develop bus parks and termini to address crowding and social distancing concerns
stipulated in the public health guidelines.
(iv) Identify county significant infrastructure projects, with project speed emphasis, for
implementation to support economic recovery from the effects of the pandemic.
(v) Apply labor based and local resource-based approaches for road development and
maintenance, where technically and economically feasible, in line with the Roads
2000 national policy10.
(vi) Focus on increasing the share of unpaved roads in good and fair condition to above
62 per cent which is the national average. For the unpaved road network, focus on
adopting the Low Volume Sealed Roads (LVSR) technology for greater network
coverage cost effectively.
(vii) Adopt climate smart road engineering designs to safeguard road and bridge
infrastructure from floods and to harvest storm water for irrigation and productive
use. Use the Kenya Urban Support Programme funding to build storm water
management systems in urban areas.
6.2 Information and Communication Technology
6.2.1 Characteristics of the Sector
The analysis of the 2019 KPHC reveals that only 14.7 per cent of the conventional households
in the county ‘own’ internet with 6.3 per cent owning a desktop, computer laptop or tablet.
Internet access, ICT device ownership and TV ownership is particularly critical not only for
access of COVID-19 information, but as well as supporting remote learning by the pupils as
well as remote working (figure 6.6).
9 Sustainable Mobility for All: https://sum4all.org/implementing-sdgs

10 Roads 2000 programme http://krb.go.ke/our-downloads/roadsper cent202000per cent20strate-
gicper cent20plan.pdf
62
Infrastructure
Figure 6.6: Percentage distribution of conventional households by ownership

of ICT assets KPHC 2019
Source: KNBS, 2019- Kenya Population and Housing Census

Online shopping is not prevalent in the County. 2.5 per cent of the conventional households
searched and bought goods/services online. There exists gender disparity in online shopping
with more men (2.7 per cent) than women (2.3 per cent) undertaking online shopping.
The perception of that the individuals do not need to use the internet, lack of knowledge
and skills on internet are the leading reasons that the people of in the County don’t have
internet connection (KIHBS, 2015/16). Other key factors include the lack of internet/
network in the area, and the high cost of service and equipment, figure 6.7.
Approximately 96 per cent of the internet users in the county rely on mobile phone for
connectivity, with a marginal population of 4 per cent relying on mobile broad band that
uses a sim card for connectivity, figure 6.8.
Figure 6.7: Why doesn’t this household have any type of internet connection?
KHIBS 2015/16
Source: KHIBS 2015/2016
63
Figure 6.8: Type of internet connection
Source: KHIBS 2015/2016

Approximately 57 per cent of the population aged 3 years and above own a mobile phone
which is lower than the national average of 47.3 per cent. Approximately 77.3 per cent of
the people in the county have a mobile money subscription compared with only 11.1 per
cent that have mobile money banking platform subscription (KHIBS 2015/16)
Figure 6.9: Mobile money transfers subscription and mobile money banking
platform
Mobile money transfer subscription Mobile money banking platform
KHIBS 2015/16 Subscription KHIBS 2015/16
Source: KNBS (2016), KIHBS (2015/16)
The county experienced gender divide in use of internet and ICT devices as well as mobile
money subscriptions. Both internet and ICT device use are higher among the male with
23.6 per cent of the men and 20.6 per cent of the women using internet, while 10.2 per cent
of the men and 8.7 per cent of the women using Desktop/Laptop/Tablet devices (KPHC
2019).While the usage is below the national averages, the county recorded a similar gender
disparity with the national averages in internet and ICT usage.
64
Infrastructure
Constraints faced
(i) Low household ownership and use of ICT assets

(ii) Low penetration of e-commerce
(iii) Households perceive that they do not need to use the internet,
(iv) Households lack knowledge and skills on internet
Linkages to other sectors
• ICT is applicable in public service delivery for business continuity during time of
lockdowns, emergencies and disasters.
• Public primary schools have been provided with ICT infrastructure and services for
digital literacy.
6.2.2 Opportunities in ICT
(i) Potential to use ICT infrastructure and services in public primary schools for
community access to ICT.
(ii) Emerging technology such as satellite and airborne transmitters for internet
connectivity.
(iii) Potential to create and transform home based economies dependent on e-commerce
for women and youth.
6.2.3 Recommendations
(i) Support programmes in partnership with the private sector that will enable
households acquire ICT assets such as smart phones and laptops and increase mobile
phone ownership from the low of 57.0 per cent to 100 per cent in line with the global
agenda for Universal Access to Mobile Telephony11
(ii) Collaborate with the Communications Authority of Kenya and telecom service
providers to utilize the Universal Service Fund12 as a “last resort” in providing ICT
access in remote areas where market forces fail to expand access.
(iii) Speed up the construction of fiber-optic broadband networks in underdeveloped areas
and collaborate with telecom companies to upgrade and improve the communication
networks in remote areas. Adopt programmes to ensure ubiquitous access to reliable
and affordable internet (internet everywhere) by applying aerial and satellite-based
communication technologies.
(iv) Harness the power of technology and use innovative solutions to bridge the gender
digital divide. Negotiate with the public primary schools for community access to ICT
infrastructure and collaboratively build and equip youth empowerment, ICT centres
and ICT laboratories as provided in the CIDP. The IT personnel in public primary
11 Universal access to mobile telephony: http://www.itu.int/itunews/manager/display.asp?lang=en

&year=2007&issue=07&ipage=universal-telephony
12 Universal Service Fund: https://ca.go.ke/industry/universal-access/purpose-of-the-fund/
65
schools can be deployed to support the development of ICT competence and skills
among the public.
v) Enhance internet connectivity to public buildings and key trade centres to boost
e-commerce especially for MSMEs in trade and business. The NOFBI programme
can be expanded to the sub-county administrative units to further enable deployment
of e-governance solutions.
vi) Make ICT a standalone sector for planning and budget allocation. This is aimed at
giving strategic prominence to planning, budgeting and investment in ICT.
vii) Review and implement ICT policies and procedures to manage ICT and mitigate cyber
threats. Collaborate with the national Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) and
the Communications Authority (CA) towards managing cyber threats, disasters and
pandemics. This is because enhanced use of ICT is known to raise threats and risks
related to cyber-crime and misinformation.
66
7. Housing and Urban Development
There are three urban centres in the County with a total population of 48.8 per cent males
and 51.1 per cent females, table 7.1. The urban land area covers 42 square kilometres with
a population density of 1800 persons per sq.km
Table 7.1: Distribution of population by urban centres by gender in Embu
County
Urban Centre Population Male Female

Embu 64,979 31,782 33,188
Runyenjes 4,943 2,406 2,537
Siakago 4,315 2,078 2,237
Source: KNBS 2019- Kenya Population and Housing Census
7.1 Characteristics of the Sector
The housing tenure is predominantly owner occupied at 73.0 per cent, with 27.0 per cent of
the households under rental tenure. Individuals are the primary providers of rental housing
at 92.0 per cent, followed by National Government (3.7%); and Private Companies (2.6%),
Figure 7.1. For those who own homes, 96.3 per cent constructed the houses while 0.9 per
cent purchased the house and 2.8 per cent inherited their homes (KNBS, 2019).
Figure 7.1: Distribution of households renting/Provided with the main
dwelling unit by provider
Source: KNBS, 2019 -Kenya Population and Housing Census

Majority of households are headed by men (63.6%) compared to women (36.4%) in the
County (KIHBS, 2015/16).
67
Housing quality
On average, the main dwellings of houses in the County have 3.09 habitable rooms against
an average household size of 4.23 persons in a household, translating to approximately
1.37 people per room. According to the UN-Habitat, overcrowding occurs when there are
more than three people per room13. In terms of housing quality (building material), 73.46
per cent of houses are constructed using finished materials for walls, floor and roofing
compared to 26.54 per cent constructed using rudimentary materials (KIHBS, 2015/16).
Majority of households (95.0 per cent) have iron sheets for roofing, bricks walls (20.9 per
cent) and Concrete/Cement/Terrazo floors (50.9%) (KNBS, 2019).
Rent payment
On average, rental households spend approximately Ksh 4610 on rent with a minimum
of Ksh 500 and the maximum of Ksh 15000 (KNBS, 2020b). The county recorded a rent
to income ratio of 15.82 per cent which is within the acceptable threshold of 30 per cent
(KNBS, 2012/13).
With the advent of COVID-19 pandemic, households’ ability to pay rent has been affected,
with 34.29 per cent of the population indicating inability to pay rent on the agreed date for
April 2020, figure 7.2, compared to 26.7 per cent of the population that were able to pay
rent on the agreed date and 47.76 per cent who paid rent on agreed date before COVID-19
pandemic, figure 7.3.
Figure 7.2: Has your household paid the rent for April 2020 on the agreed date
13 Household crowding measure: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535289/table/ch3.

tab2/#:~:text=Overcrowdingper cent20occursper cent20ifper cent20thereper cent20are,perper
cent20habitableper cent20roomper cent20(88).&text=Crowdingper cent20occursper cent20ifper
cent20thereper cent20is,per cent2Drooms)per cent20(89).
68
Housing and urban development
Figure 7.3: Was the household paying rent on the agreed date with the landlord
before COVID-19?
Source: KNBS COVID-19 Impact Survey 2020 wave 2

The main reason that has made households unable to pay rent was attributed to reduced
incomes /earnings, reported by 75.89 per cent of the population. The inability to pay rent
was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic by 94.31 per cent of the population, figure 7.4.
Figure 7.4: What is the MAIN reason that has made your household unable to
pay rent?
Source: KNBS COVID-19 Impact Survey 2020 wave 2

Majority of the households (81.32%) did not receive a waiver or relief on payment of rent
from the landlord, with 4.15 per cent reporting a partial waiver and 1.04 per cent reporting
a full waiver. To overcome the effects of Corona virus on payment on rent, majority 19.08
per cent of households renegotiated rent terms, while 19.41 per cent of households did not
take any measures. Approximately 16.81 per cent used personal savings to pay rent (Figure
7.5).
69
Figure 7.5: What measures has your household taken to overcome the effects
of Corona Virus – rent
Source: KNBS COVID-19 Impact Survey 2020-Wave2

With regard to primary energy source for cooking, 80.5 per cent of households rely on
unclean sources of energy for cooking such as firewood, paraffin and charcoal, which could
adversely affect respiratory health of women and children.
Constraints faced
(i) Household inability to pay rent due to livelihood shocks
7.2 Opportunities in housing and Urban development
(i) Partnership with National Government and Private Sector for home improvement
(roof, floor and walls) under the Big Four Agenda.
7.3 Emerging Issues
(i) Existing stock of owner-occupied homes that can be improved using finished building
materials for roofing, walls and floors.
7.4 Recommendations
(i) Avail appropriate building technology for use by the public in house construction and
improvement in every sub-county, that responds to local cultural and environmental
circumstances.
(ii) Fast-track implementation of the affordable housing programme with a focus on
improving living conditions and building quality applying finished materials for
walls, floors and roofing.
70
Housing and urban development
(iii) Identify and designate urban centres for upgrade pursuant to provisions of the Urban
Areas and Cities (amendment) Act, 2019.
(iv) Develop and implement urban planning and design instruments that support
sustainable management and use of natural resources and land in line with the New
Urban Agenda and as mitigative measure to future pandemics and disasters.
(v) Formulate and seek approval of urban development plans and development control
policies to support investment and development of urban areas.
(vi) Adopt programmes aimed at an increasing household access to clean energy sources
and technologies for cooking to mitigate against exposure to respiratory diseases.
71
8. Tourism
8.1 Characteristic of the sector
Tourism is a key sub-sector in Embu County that has a high potential in the county for both
local and international tourists. Some of the available sites include caves, waterfalls and
rocky hills (Karue, Kianjiru, Kiambere, Ndune, Kirimiri, Maranga, Kiang’ombe) to support
hiking; Kamburu and Masinga hydro-electric power dams; Mt Kenya and Mwea National
Parks that host various wildlife (including elephants, Zebra, Buffalo; Elephant, lesser kudu,
Nile crocodile, hippo, giraffe, Burchell’s zebra, buffalo, leopard, grey duiker, black-backed
jackal, bushbuck, waterbuck, olive baboon, sykes’ monkey, serval cat, spotted hyena,
warthog) and over 200 bird species. The Mwea Game Reserve is the only protected area in
which the globally threatened and Kenya-endemic Hinde’s babbler is known to occur. Embu
is also a gateway to Mt. Kenya which, if aggressively marketed can bring huge incomes to
the county. Other attractions include 3751 Ha of forests that supports eco-tourism; Agro-
tourism (coffee and tea plantations); medical tourism (Traditional herbalists and medicine
men; Embu referral hospital).
Development and recurrent expenditure incurred on the Trade, Tourism, Investment, and
Industrialization sector in 2013-2017 was only 1.2 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively of
the total spending; while in the same period, accommodation and food services accounted
for 0.8 per cent of total GCP. This indicating the need to prioritize development of the
tourism sector.
8.2 Opportunities with COVID-19 in Tourism
Existing stock of owner-occupied housing.

(i) Improving sanitation aspects in tourism attraction sites.
(ii) Refurbishment of accommodation facilities
(iii) Promoting domestic tourism
8.3 Emerging Issues
Sanitation is a key component in ensuring business continuity in the tourism sub-sector.
72
Tourism
8.4 Recommendations
(i) Promotion of domestic tourism to cushion the economy from impacts of travel
advisories and constraints caused by the pandemic on international tourist
arrivals.
(ii) Regular maintenance of tourism attraction sites.
(iii) Tourism marketing and promotion
(iv) Diversification of tourism products.
(v) Opening of access routes to the tourist sites.
(vi) Community sensitization on tourist sites in the county.
(vii) Promotion of eco-tourism, cultural and sports tourism in the 6 main rivers (Tana,
Rupingazi, Kii, Ena, Thiba, Thuci) and two hydro-electric dams.
(viii) Development of tourism infrastructure (route to Mt. Kenya, star-rated hotels, tourist
sites, tented camps).
(ix) Enforcing guidelines on high sanitation standards for the hospitality sector to stop
the spread of COVID-19 and other pandemics while ensuring business continuity.
(x) Inspect all the tourism establishments in the county and train tourism service
providers.
73
9. Health
General health provision in the county
The government owned 50 per cent of the facilities, 33 per cent of these facilities were
owned by private and 17 per cent owned by faith-based organizations. However, government
indicating increased reliance on public facilities for curative healthcare services owns
approximately 56 per cent of the health centres and hospitals.
Table 9.1: Health provision
Year 2018 2019/20
Health facility density
Primary health facilities 141 210
Hospitals 8 8
Number of health facilities 149 218
Health facility density 2.5 3.2
Bed density
Hospital beds 1,576 1,648
No. of Beds per 10,000 population 24 24
Human resource density
Total workforce 2,966 2,858
Human Resources for Health (Technical) 2,268 2,282
Number per 10,000 population 42.5 45.9
Source: Ministry of Health (2021)
In 2019/2020, the number of health facilities in the county were 218 which comprised of
210 primary health facilities and 8 hospitals. This was an improvement from a total of 149
health facilities in the previous year, 2018. The number of beds per 10,000 population is
24 which is lower than the WHO recommendation of 30 beds per 10, 000 population. The
health facilities and personnel serve a growing population of 608,599 people according
2019 census. In 2019/20, total health workforce was approximately 2,282 representing
45.9 health workers per 10,000 population which is higher than the WHO target of 23
health workers per 10,000.
74
Health
Table 9.2:Percentage distribution of the population that reported sickness/

injury by type of health provider in the county (%)
Type of Health Provider Percentage Distribution of the
Population
Government hospital 28.1
Government health centre 7.7
Government dispensary 37.8
Faith Based (church, Mission) Hospital / Clinic 1.6
Community Health 0.0
Private hospital / clinic 27.2
Nursing/ Maternity Home 0.4
Pharmacy/ chemist 0.8
Community health worker 0.0
Shop/ Kiosk 0.0
Traditional healer 0.0
Faith healer 0.0
Herbalist 0.3
Other 0.0
Number of Individuals (‘000) 102
Table 9.2 presents the distribution of population reported to have been sick or injured and
the type of health provider they visited. Majority of the County residents who reported
illness visited government dispensaries at 37.8 per cent followed by those who visited
government hospitals and private hospitals at 28.1 per cent and 27.2 per cent, respectively.
About 7.7 per cent visited government health centres, while 1.6 per cent visited Faith Based
(church, Mission) Hospital / Clinic.
Population with health insurance cover
The percentage distribution of the population with health insurance cover by type
of insurance provider is presented in Table 9.3. In general, 32.7 per cent of the county
population had some form of health insurance cover. The National Hospital Insurance
Fund (NHIF) was the leading health insurance provider reported by 94.5 per cent of the
population. Employer contributory insurance cover was reported by 3.3 per cent of the
population. Private contributions to insurance cover were reported by 2.9 per cent of the
population.
75
Table 9.3: Percentage distribution of the country’s population with health

insurance cover by type of health insurance provider (%)
Source of Health Insurance Percentage Distribution of the
Population (per cent)
Population (‘000) 560
Share of population with health insurance (per
cent) 32.7
NHIF 94.5
Private-Contributory 2.9
Private-Non-Contributory 0.7
Employer-Contributory 3.3
Employer-Non-Contributory 0.1
Other 4.5
Place of delivery
In the 2015/16 KIHBS, women in Embu county were asked the place where children aged
5 years and below were delivered. Table 9.4 shows the percentage distribution of children
by place of delivery, in the county. About 20.2 per cent of children were delivered at home
which is below the national percentage of 31.3 per cent. The proportion of children born
in hospitals, health centres, dispensary/clinics was 61.1 per cent, 15.3 per cent, and 1.4 per
cent respectively.
Table 9.4: Proportion of children aged 0-59 months by place of delivery (per
cent)
Place of Delivery Proportion of Children aged 0-59 Months by
place of delivery (per cent)
Hospital 61.1
Health Centre 15.3
Clinic/ Dispensary 1.4
Maternity Home 0.0
At Home 20.2
Other 0.0
Not stated 1.7
Number of Individuals
(‘000) 57
76
Health
Immunization for children
The 2015/16 KIHBS covered data on measles immunization for children below 5 years at;
9 months (Measles I) and at 18 months (Measles II). The information was collected from
vaccination cards where they were available while mother’s recall was used where the card
was not available. Table 9.5 presents information on the proportion of children immunized
(from vaccination cards) against measles. The analysis focused on children aged 12-23
months (or one year). The county had 53.1 per cent of the children aged 12-23 months were
fully immunized against measles at 9 months while 21.6 per cent were fully immunized
against measles at 18 months.
Table 9.5: Proportion of children aged 0-59 months immunized against
measles
Proportion of Children
Vaccination Card Yes Seen 67.0
Yes, Not Seen 26.3
No 6.7
Not stated 0.0
Measles Vaccination Measles I (At 9 months Card) 53.1
Measles II (At 18 months Card) 21.6
Measles II (Mother/ Guardian
memory) 30.5
Either (card or memory) 83.6
Number of
Individuals (‘000) 57
Health outputs
The main conditions causing morbidity are outpatient health facility visits and mortality
in the county across all ages were upper respiratory tract infections, malaria, skin diseases,
and diarrheal diseases. The conditions attributed to several risk factors in the environment
in which the people of Embu live in, such as inadequate water, and inadequate ventilation.
The prevalence of injuries is attributed to poor road condition largely while malaria
is attributed to seasonal flooding. An underlying factor across the conditions among
populations with low socio-economic status include low immunization coverage, lack of
adherence to exclusive breast feeding, and poor nutrition.
In terms of inpatient morbidity cases, the main contributors to the burden are both
communicable and non-communicable diseases such as diarrhoea diseases, malaria,
pneumonia, peptic ulcers, hypertension, psychosis, poisoning, diabetes, anaemia, and
road injuries. Notably, abortion is also a contributor to admissions indicating that there is
gap in provision of family planning and other reproductive health services. The associated
morbidities risk factors for other conditions include inadequate water, inadequate
77
ventilation, lifestyle habits, poor health seeking behaviours, drugs, and alcohol abuse as
well as inadequacies in diagnosis and treatment.
The most affected groups during COVID-19 pandemic were the infant, young children,
mothers, adults and elderly. For instance, the maternal and child services indicators
indicate that 86 per cent of mothers accessed skilled delivery, while about 16 per cent of the
children are born at home and 82 per cent of children get full immunization. This implies
almost 1 in 5 children are at the risk of getting diseases, poor health and immunity system.
The infant mortality rate and under-five mortality is high recorded as 44 deaths per 1000
births and 49 deaths per 1000 births respectively.
The county proportion of stunted children of 26.8 per cent, wasted children of 3 per cent
and underweight children of 11.1 per cent almost at bar with the national averages of 26 per
cent, 4 per cent and 11 per cent respectively. Additionally, the HIV adult prevalence stood
at 2.8 per cent, with adult and child ART coverage standing at 80 and 87 per cent. The
county performed relatively better than national averages in terms of the low prevalence of
communicable conditions including HIV, Malaria and TB.
Table 9.6: Health sector performance
Key Health Indicators County Estimates

Maternal and Child Services
Skilled delivery (per cent) 81.5
Children born at home 16.2
Fully immunized child 85.5
Child Mortality
Infant mortality (*/1000) 44
Under-5 mortality (*/1000) 49
Neo-natal mortality (*/1000) 0
Nutrition Status
Stunted children (per cent) 26.8
Wasted children (per cent) 3
Underweight children (per cent) 11.1
HIV (per cent)
HIV adult prevalence (per cent) 2.8
Children with HIV(No.) 0
ART adult coverage (per cent) 80
ART children coverage (per cent) 87
Source: KDHS (2014); DHIS 2018
The county established 404 beds in readiness for management of COVID-19 cases, and
another 18 ICU beds for those who may need critical care. To support the ICU, the County
had also put in place an oxygen plant in the main isolation centre in Embu Level 5 Hospital,
which runs at 80 litres per minute. The county had also cascaded services to manage the
spread of the virus to all the four Sub-Counties through the county emergency response
78
Health
team. The county had also put in place other measures to mitigate the impact of pandemic.
This included the prioritization of health services, identifying and setting up centers for
COVID-19 pandemic to limit interference and contact with those seeking services in the
big hospital. The county also identified and set up centres for the pandemic making them
COVID-19 centres to ensure there was no interference with services in the main hospital.
Recruitment for more health workers was carried out to boost the human resource (nurses
and clinical officers) in the hospitals. The county also offers counselling services to her
health care professionals over and above the safety measures for the front-line health
providers. To enhance mobility and access, the county had purchased a new vehicle to
facilitate more efficient transportation of reagents to Nairobi, which is depended upon for
testing services.
However, the county faced some drawbacks in the fight against the pandemics for some
instances. The county had shortage of doctors, nurses and specialists. Most of the healthcare
workers in the county required adequate training on the COVID-19 management protocols
and infection prevention. The County had two isolation centres. Inadequate PPEs among
the frontline healthcare workers working in various health care facilities. The health sector
needs to focus on empowering the workforce and upgrading of working conditions and
provision of requisite health commodities and equipment, especially in relation to personal
protective equipment and occupational safety, implementing the following strategies.
Effects of COVID-19
In June 2020, Kenya National Bureaus of Statistics conducted a survey of COVID-19. The
results showed share of the population that had doctor or healthcare provider testing or
confirming to them the status in regards COVID-19 was estimated at 2.7 per cent in 2020
(COVID-19, Wave 2 survey). Further only 1 per cent of the population indicated that at
least one household member had failed to seek health services and 87.5 per cent of the
population indicated they will be willing to be tested if there was mass testing for COVID
19.
Figure 9.1: COVID-19 testing, 2020
Source: COVID-19 Wave 2 (June 2020)
79
As per the latest National Adolescents and Youth Survey (NAYS) report of 2020, the main
health problems affecting young people are teenage pregnancies, drug and substance abuse
(DSA), STI and/or HIV and AIDS infections, malnutrition, mental health problems, SGBV
and abortion. Other problems identified were poor sanitation and existence of diseases
such as malaria. Other causes of the health issues in the county were high levels of poverty
in households, fear of knowing HIV status. Addiction to drugs and substance abuse,
idleness, parental negligence / lack of parental guidance and lack of or inadequate health
information and services
COVID-19 has worsened the situation as far as youths and women were concerned. These
groups had faced several challenges even before the outbreak of the COVID-19. FGM and
Gender based violence cases had increased with the lock down.
9.2 Opportunities with COVID-19 in Health Sector
DANIDA Health Sector Programme Support III (Kenya) introduced Nomadic Clinics which
can help handle community support for any emerging health issues including COVID-19
cases. The clinics offer basic health services such as immunization and skilled birth
attendance. To ensure further outreach motorbikes are attached to each clinic and these
are sent out into the community in special circumstances such as to ensure that children do
not miss their immunization shots.
World Vision had donated hundreds of water tanks, over 1000 liquid hand soaps ,700
litres of hand sanitizers and 10 fumigating equipment in a programme aimed at creating
awareness on the need to do regular hand washing. The World Vision also partnered with
the public health officials in the county to train and sensitize the public over COVID-19.
The Safaricom foundation had also handed over PPEs to benefit around 300 healthcare
workers in two health centres and an isolation facility. The PPEs included N95 Masks,
Surgical masks and protective clothing. The Kenya Red cross in partnership with Safaricom
foundation also support the county in helping the households affected by flood.
9.3 Emerging Issues
Hepatitis B and Snakebites are two emerging conditions which are of public health concern
in the county. There is an upsurge of cases of Hepatitis B in the lowland areas of the
county. Inadequate community awareness on the prevention of transmission of Hepatitis
B is considered a contributing factor. Snakebites incidences are also common and are
attributable to human animal wildlife conflict. There is an acknowledged gap in capacity of
health care workers to treat snakebites and lack of supply of anti -venom; hence implying
expected demand for referral services.
The most common cases of referrals relate complications in the County are chronic kidney
diseases, broncho-pneumonia, intestinal obstruction, and acute anemia. These critical
conditions do require a functional ICU and a blood transfusion unit which have yet to be
completed and operationalized.
Due to the stigma of COVID-19, the health-seeking behavior of the Embu citizens had also
80
Health
been affected. There was a decline in the number of pregnant women attending maternal
child health clinic thereby increasing their risk of early and late pregnancy complications.
In addition, there was acute decline in the number of children going for immunization
services therefore this could lead to increased susceptibility of these children to infections
and nutritional imbalances.
Access to other services like patient support centres (PSC) for People Living with HIV
(PLHIV) was also at risk as people shy away from health facilities; causing another risk of
likely surge in new HIV infections and reduced viral suppression.
9.4 Recommendations
In line with the health status in the county, some of the recommendations that need
attention include the following:
(i) The need creates awareness on availability and importance of free maternity services
and address other constraints to access of maternal health services in the county to
address fear of contracting COVID19 in event of visiting a health facility.
(ii) In addition, the County needs to consistently allocate resources towards nutrition
specific and sensitive programmes in the various sectors by establishing specific
budget lines for nutrition support initiatives.
(iii) Adopt community health outreach programs to sensitize its members to adopt proper
health seeking behaviours that could have been affected due to the stigmatization
that comes along with the pandemic.
(iv) The county government through the Department on planning will need to secure
full board accommodation to the frontline healthcare workers to minimize cross-
infection.
(v) The county government will need to sensitise expectant women on the need to
attend regular antenatal clinics for checkup and the caregivers of children need to be
sensitized on the importance of immunization.
(vi) Revamp, expand, modernize and equip existing health facilities such as Embu Level 5
hospital as well as recruiting additional public health officers and community health
workers to strengthen preventive and primary health systems in the County.
(vii) Implement a comprehensive human resource health management system including
undertaking training needs assessments and strengthening information system
including contact tracing; ensure skilled, motivated and equitable deployment of
health care workers.
(viii) Promote and support public and community health including the installation of
hand washing facilities in homes, and public and private institutions such as schools,
workplaces and health care facilities within all the sub counties of Embu County.
(ix) Proactively address the mental health needs including those of the health workforce,
81
mental illnesses from depression, especially in response to shut downs. Establish

counselling office specifically for the people affected by COVID 19 in all health
facilities in the County.
(x) Provide appropriate antenatal care for high risk women in the current pandemic while
encouraging all mothers to visit hospitals while taking precautions in preventing
contracting the virus, and any other infectious diseases.
82
10. Education and Training
General Education Provision in the County
Embu County has a total of 619 pre-primary centres, 552 primary. Infrastructures are in
place to support water and sanitation efforts in learning institutions by the county. The
county had rolled out plans to provide hand washing facilities in schools.
About 84.9 per cent of public primary schools in Embu County had been installed with ICT
infrastructure and devices under the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP) (ICT Authority,
2019). The infrastructures include learner digital devices (LDD), teacher digital devices
(TDD) and the Digital Content Server and Wireless Router (DCSWR).
There are 519 primary schools in the county: 385 public schools and 134 private. Total
enrolment in primary schools stands at 124,774: 101, 425 in public primary schools and
23,349 in private primary schools. The average school size of public primary schools is 263,
while in private primary schools is 174. The primary gender parity index in Embu County is
0.95. The primary pupil teacher ratio is 26:1.
The total number of secondary schools is 212: 197 public and 15 private. The total
enrolment in secondary schools is 56,607; 54,368 enrolled in public schools and 2239 in
private schools. The average class size in public secondary schools is 276 and 149 in private
secondary schools. The gender parity index in secondary schools is 1.09. The pupil teacher
ratio in secondary schools is 25:1.
The number of ECDE centres in the county stood at 610 of which 390 are public while 220
are private as at 2015. The total enrolment in ECDE centres is 22,010: 15,641 in public
ECDE centres and 6369 private. The gender parity index in ECDE centres is 1. The total
number of teachers in ECDE centres is 684, translating to a pupil-teacher ratio of 23:1.
The county has three university campuses namely: Chuka University College; Kenyatta
University Campus; and Embu University College. Additionally, the county had 4 teacher
training colleges and 26 youth polytechnics in four of the five sub-counties; 25 are public
and 2 being private as at 2015. The total enrolment at the youth polytechnics was 1189.
Furthermore, the county had 257 adult education centres (AEC) with a total of 5249
students enrolled and 113 teachers, translating to a student teacher ratio 46 of as of 2015.
Gross Attendance Ratio (GAR) and Net Attendance Ratio (NAR)
Gross Attendance Ratio (GAR) is the total number of persons attending school regardless
of their age, expressed as a percentage of the official school age population for a specific
level of education. Table 10.1 presents the GAR by sex and schooling level for Embu County.
GAR for pre-primary school was 69.5 per cent while that of primary school and secondary
83
school was 119.0 and 66.0 per cent respectively. The GAR for pre-primary school was
higher for males, 76.6 per cent, compared to that for females, 60.4 per cent. The GAR for
primary school was higher for females, 125.6 per cent, compared to that for males, 113.9
per cent. The GAR for secondary school was higher for males, 67.8 per cent, compared to
that for females, 64.3 per cent.
Net Attendance Ratio (NAR) is the total number of persons in the official school age group
attending a specific level to the total population in that age group. Table 10.1 shows that
total NAR for pre-primary, primary and secondary school was 57.0, 94.2 and 44.0 per cent,
respectively.
Table 10.1: Gross attendance ratio and net attendance ratio by educational
level in Embu County
Education Level Gender Gross Attendance Net Attendance Ratio
Ratio
Pre-Primary School Male 76.6 65.5
Female 60.4 45.0
Total 69.5 57.0
Primary School Male 113.9 93.6
Female 125.6 94.9
Total 119.0 94.2
Secondary School Male 67.8 47.7
Female 64.3 40.6
Total 66.0 44.0
Basic education gross and net enrolment rate
The pre-primary gross enrolment rate in the county was 82.4 per cent in 2019 and while
the net enrolment rate was 56.8 per cent. The Gross Primary and Secondary enrolment
rates stood at 111.7 per cent and 88.4 per cent respectively in 2019 while the Net enrolment
rates (NER) were 88.4 per cent and 54.4 per cent for primary school and secondary school
respectively during the same period.
Table 10.2: Gross and net enrolment rate (%), 2019
Pre-primary 2019
Gross Enrolment rate (GER) (%) 82.4
Net Enrolment rate (NER) (%) 56.8
Gender parity index 1.00
Primary
Gross Enrolment rate (GER)(%) 111.7
84
Education and training
Secondary
Gross Enrolment rate (GER) (%) 88.4
Source: KNBS (2022)
Literacy
The analysis of literacy is based on respondents’ self-assessment as no reading and

writing tests were administered during the data collection. Further it was assumed that
anybody with secondary level of schooling and above could read and write. The percentage
distribution of population aged 15 years and above by ability to read and write is presented
in Table 10.3. The proportion of literate population in the county is 86.1 per cent with
the male population more literate (90.1 per cent) compared to their female counterparts
(82.2%).
Table 10.3: Percentage distribution of population aged 15 years and above by
ability to read and write (%)
Ability to Read and Write Percentage Distribution
(%)
Overall county Literate 86.1
Illiterate 12.5
Not Stated 1.4
Male Literate 90.1
Illiterate 8.8
Not Stated 1.1
Female Literate 82.2
Illiterate 16
Not Stated 1.8
Educational Attainment
The distribution of population aged 3 years and above by educational qualification attained
is presented in Table 10.4. Approximately 48.4 per cent of the population did not have any
educational qualification. This was higher than the national percentage of 49.7%. Only 0.9
per cent of the population had attained university degree. The proportion of the population
with CPE/KCPE qualification is 29.8 per cent and that of KCE/ KCSE qualification is 12.8
per cent.
85
Highest education
Table 10.4: Percentage distribution of population by highest educational

qualification
Highest Educational Qualification Percentage Distribution of Population
None 48.4
CPE/ KCPE 29.8
KAPE 0
KJSE 0.4
KCE/ KCSE 12.8
KACE/ EAACE 0.4
Certificate 3.3
Diploma 1.5
Degree 0.9
Basic/post literacy certificate 0.1
Other 0
Not Stated 2.5
Number of individuals (‘000) 482
Percentage distribution of Embu County residents 3 years and above who have ever
attended school by the highest level reached, and sex is presented in Table 10.5. The
proportion of males who had reached primary school level was 63.6 per cent while that
of females was 61.2 per cent. Except for primary school level and college (middle level),
the proportion of males who had reached other levels of education were comparatively
higher than females. There was a high disparity between the proportion of persons who had
reached university education level, male recording a higher percentage than female (1.7%
and 1.5%, respectively).
Table 10.5: Percentage distribution of residents 3 years and above who had
ever attended school by highest level reached, and sex for Embu County (%)
Educational Level Gender Percentage Distribution of
Population 3 Years and above
Pre-primary Male 4.6
Female 5.7
Primary Male 63.6
Female 61.2
Post primary vocational Male 1.4
Female 1.2
Secondary Male 21.4
Female 23.2
86
College (Middle-level) Male 4.1

Female 5.4
University Male 1.7
Female 1.5
Madrassa / Duksi Male 0.0
Female 0.0
Other Male 0.1
Female 0.3
Not Stated Male 3.2
Female 1.5
Number of Individuals (‘000) Male 250
Female 232
According to the National Adolescents and Youth Survey (NAYS, 2014), drugs and
substance abuse, child labour, absenteeism of teachers and students were the main
education problems affecting young people. The participants attributed the problems to
peer pressure among youth as well as poverty which leads to school dropout as students
cannot afford school fees.
Just like other counties, many people in Embu County lost their jobs because of the
COVID-19 pandemic. Private schools were forced to lay off both teaching and support
(casuals) staff because they could not sustain their salaries. Public schools faced challenges
in making payment for the other expenses such as electricity, water and security bills. Apart
from the other expenses, public schools could not pay teachers who were hired on contracts
and were under boards of management.
The 26 Youth polytechnics are distributed as follows: 7 in Embu East; 7 in Manyatta; 8 in
Mbeere North; and 4 in Mbeere South. There was one technical institute in the county as
of 2015; the Institute of Technology Rwika (Jeremiah Nyagah) which had 420 students
enrolled.
The main challenges in the education sector include inadequate infrastructure and equipment
in schools; long distance travelled from home to ECDE centres acute shortage of qualified
instructors; lack of modern teaching machines, tools and equipment in polytechnics; high
examination fees in polytechnics; high dropout rate in Youth Polytechnics; inadequate
institutions of higher learning; lack of an institution offering agro-based courses which
would be more relevant to the economy of the county; lack of land tenure documents in
primary schools and insufficient special schools.
COVID-19 was the main challenge over the past two years since it led to the closure of most
education centres. In particular, private schools in Embu County were severely affected as
a result of the COVID-19 pandemic because they could no longer receive income in form of
school fees. Suppliers and vendors who sold their goods and services to schools lost their
target market after the government ordered all schools to shut down.
87
ICT in education
Closure of all schools led to loss to learning time and teaching time. The e-learning program
at home was strained because of limited access and capacity in ICT integration in education
hence there was no learning for students in most homes during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Figure 10.1: Access to ICT in households and schools
Source: Kenya Population and Housing Census (KPHC, 2019)

Identifying the linkage between education and other sectors, the line Ministries and
Departments such as Health, Ministry of Education and Development Partners such as
UNICEF, AMREF was important and involved child immunization through multi-sectoral
approach. In addition, through ICT, other children within the county had managed to
continue with their school work at home.
10.2 Opportunities with COVID-19 in Education and Training
The demand for PPEs such as masks in the County had led to local production by vocational
technical training centres (VTCs) hence creating employment and income for youth. It will
however be important to address issues of standards and quality of the local produced
PPEs. Further, the pandemic had provided an opportunity for enhancement of the health
facilities through advancement in equipment and employment of more health personnel
in the county.
10.3 Emerging Issues
The County with support from stakeholders will need to continue to invest in early
childhood development through infrastructural development to allow for adequate social
distancing; deployment of ECDE teachers, provision of sanitation facilities and enhanced
88
school feeding programme. To achieve these objectives, the county will require to partner
with the national government and private sector to enhance ECDE and vocation training
through infrastructural development as well as equipment of all ECDE, primary, secondary
and vocational training; and University branches in the County with adequate WASH and
adequate learning spaces.
10.4 Recommendations
(i) The County with support from stakeholders to continue to invest in early childhood
development through infrastructural development to allow for adequate social
distancing when schools reopen; deployment of ECDE teachers and provision of
sanitation facilities.
(ii) The county to involve communities to mobilize learners to enrol in schools while
deepening implementation of COVID 19 mitigation measures. The county would
combine community participation and large-scale direct communication campaigns
to parents, and where possible, increase attendance options to accommodate all
children, including those with highest risk of dropping out, also promote back to
school campaign and community outreach to ensure that no child dropped out of
school due to COVID-19 emergency.
(iii) The County to prioritize projects that improve school water, sanitation and hygiene
facilities and management in order to reduce future effect of similar or related
outbreak while promoting public health in learning institutions.
(iv) The county to promote remedial/catch up lessons for learners who might have lagged
behind also schools to utilize ICT platforms and have a depository of teaching and
learning materials that learners could use at their own time and while at home.
(v) The county to provide financial or in-kind support, such as school feeding, to help
families overcome the increased costs of attending school, also provide psychosocial
support to teachers and learners.
(vi) Concerted efforts will also be required to fight drug and substance abuse among the
youths in the county. This can be done through counselling and ensuring that they
are not idle especially this period when learning institutions are locked.
(vii) The County Government will need to support private institutions which are facing
threat of closure due to losses as a result of closing schools. This can involve giving
grants and loans to the private schools.
89
11. Social Protection
Sources of vulnerabilities in the County
According to the KNBS census 2019, Embu County has a population of 608,599 of which
6.4 per cent are the elderly and 4.4 per cent are people living with disabilities. The overall
poverty rates in the county stand at 44 per cent which was higher than the national average
(36.1 per cent). Despite being an agricultural county, the county’s food poverty levels were
at 28 per cent and 28 per cent of the total population is multi-dimensionally poor. Further,
about 27 per cent of the children population were stunted. The impact of the COVID-19 to
the county’s economy cannot be gainsaid.
To cushion the citizens, the county has implemented various safety net programmes. The
County targeted to provide cash transfer to 200 households in each sub – county, provide
cash transfer to 50 households in each sub – county for poor and severe disabled persons.
The County also supported and built capacities of individuals, vulnerable groups and
communities for equity and self-reliance through training. With increasing demand for
cash transfers, the County government initiated targeted cash transfers to the elderly and
food distribution to vulnerable households both before and during COVID-19 period.
Severe Shocks to the Households
Severe shocks have had negative impact to the household’s economic and social welfare of
county residents. Table 11.1 presents the proportion of households by the first severe shock
in the county. The major shock in the county was dearth of livestock which affected 25.3
per cent of the households followed by drought/floods and Death of family Member which
affected 21.2 per cent and 8 per cent of the households in the county.
Household business failure, large rise in price of food and Severe water shortage were
also other major shocks in the county affecting 3.4 per cent, 1.5 per cent and 6 per cent
respectively. Crop disease or crop pests were experienced by 1 per cent of households while
the 3.6 per cent reported having their livestock stolen as other 4 per cent of the households
reported to have experienced Break-up of the households.
90
Social protection
Table 11.1: The proportion of households by the first severe shock in the County
The proportion of
First Severe Shock
households (per cent)
Droughts or Floods 21.2
Crop disease or crop pests 1
Livestock died 25.3
Livestock were stolen 3.6
Household business failure, non-agricultural 3.4
Loss of salaried employment or non-payment of salary

4.6
End of regular assistance, aid, or remittances from
outside the household 0
Large fall in sale prices for crops 0
Large rise in price of food 1.5
Large rise in agricultural input prices -
Severe water shortage 6
Birth in the household -
Death of household head 5
Death of working member of household 3
Death of other family Member 8
Break-up of the household 4
Bread winner jailed 1
Fire 1
Robbery / Burglary / Assault 4
Carjacking -
Dwelling damaged, destroyed 0
Eviction -
Ethnic/ Clan Clashes -
Conflict -
HIV/ AIDS -
Other 6
Number of
households with
Shock 98,000
91
Distribution of social assistance beneficiaries
Households in the county received various forms of social assistance or transfers or gift
either in form of a good, service, financial asset or other asset by an individual, household
or institution. Transfers constitute income that the household receives without working
for it and augments household income by improving its welfare. Cash transfers include
assistance in form of currency or transferable deposits such as cheque and money orders.
The proportion of households that received cash transfers by source, household headship,
residence and county is presented in Table 11.2. Overall, 24 per cent of the households
received cash transfers. A higher proportion of households received transfers from within
the country (65%), mainly from individuals (83%) while external transfers constituted 2
per cent.
Table 11.2: The proportion of households that received cash transfers by
source, and household headship
Beneficiaries
Total Number of Households 164,000
Households receiving transfers (per
cent) 24
From Inside Kenya Individual 21,703
Non-Profit 643
Institution
National 1,095
Government
County 664
Government
Corporate -
Sector
Inside Kenya 24,106
Outside 531
Kenya
Total 24,253
Number of house- 40,000
holds that received
transfers
The gender inequalities issues in the county were evident. Embu County had 4 youth
empowerment Centres aimed at skills development and talent harnessing. During the
COVID-19 pandemic, the county experienced a surge in teenage pregnancies and violence
meted against young boys, girls and women. This was attributed to COVID-19 and the
resulting measures that led to staying at home and closure of schools. Teenage pregnancies
were associated with high rates of school dropouts, stigma, increased mental health
92
Social protection
concerns, sexually transmitted diseases, postpartum depression and suicidal ideation.

Most of the social protection operations were undertaken through non-contributory
transfers in cash for the elderly, OVCs and PWDS. In some instances, in kind
transfers which include school feeding programmes were also used to reach a
wider audience and age group.
11.2 Opportunities with COVID-19 in social protection
Regional unity in the fight against corona pandemic and exploitation of the eco-
nomic potential was observed. The disease had also provided an opportunity to
measure how county governments are prepared to handle the devolved functions.
Health being a devolved function, it has really exposed the counties as many of
them lacked required health facilities such as ICU beds and enough medical per-
sonnel. The virus had also provided an opportunity to develop social protection
programs to cushion the vulnerable groups in the community in case of outbreak
of other diseases.
11.3 Emerging Issues
Gender based violence has social and economic implications in any society. It
severely restricts women’s ability to exercise their socio-economic and reproduc-
tive health rights; constrains women from fully contributing to overall econ-
omy’s development leading to loss of incomes; and exacerbates health costs.
Youth unemployment also leads to under-utilization of youth potential especially
at the peak of their life cycle.
COVID-19 pandemic created effects with immediate and long-term economic consequences
for children, PWDs, elderly and their families. In an effort to strengthen social protection
response in face of a similar pandemic, the county government would:
(i) Undertake research in collaboration with KEMRI, NCPWD and University of Embu
to get a better understanding of the actual situation of disability and chronic illness
in Embu County, and to map existing initiatives towards managing the effects of the
pandemic in the County.
(ii) Promote interventions towards the expansion of social protection initiatives
targeting elderly persons. This to also involve increasing the cash given to elderly.
(iii) Protect vulnerable groups in the population from health costs by enhancing NHIF
coverage; improving knowledge of the existing insurance schemes to improve uptake;
and subsidizing NHIF premiums for targeted vulnerable populations.
93
12. Labour Participation
Sources of employment in the County
Agriculture is the main driver of the economy in Embu County with over 70 per cent of
the residents being small scale farmers. Small percentages are business people and civil
servants working in government institutions. Tea, coffee and cotton have been the main
cash crops. The farmers in the county were greatly affected by COVID-19, mainly because of
national lockdowns and social distancing policies. The agriculture sector was experiencing
a low traffic on sales and movement of goods, which in turn had an adverse effect on
market operations and cash flow for farmers. The export and import restrictions created
uncertainty on the crop farming and tourism industry forcing the farmers to undertake
emergency response measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in communities, this
resulted to loss of jobs and income amongst the farmers.
Table 12.1: Distribution of population age 5 years and above by activity status,
and sex in the County
Male Female Total

Population 270,430 272,976 543,425
Working 157,937 159,153 317,105
Seeking Work/ No Work Available 13,015 6,971 19,686
Persons outside the Labour Force 99,456 106,826 206,286
Not Stated 22 26 48
per cent Working 92.4 95.8 94.1
per cent Seeking Work/ No Work
Available 7.6 4.2 5.8
Source: KNBS (2019)
Distribution of Population Age 5 Years and above by Activity Status, and Sex in the County
is shown in Table 12.1 above. An assessment on the County population aged 15-64 years
(labour force) was estimated at 337,091 people of whom 317,105 people were working and
19,986 were seeking work but work was not available representing an unemployment rate
of 5.9 per cent (Kenya Population and Housing Census, 2019).
In terms of gender participation in economic activity, more females are involved in
agricultural production for both food and cash-crop growing, which implies the social
economic fallout of COVID-19 had an impulse effect on women over men in the county.
Farming is mainly small-scale and is aimed at producing for own consumption and to
generate income for the family. The men on the other hand are more involved into Jua Kali
94
activities which require some specialized skills through technical training or apprenticeship.
Also, more men than women are involved in business because they can access credit more
easily than their female counterparts.
Food crops, livestock and to a large extent horticulture production comprise the major
economic activities in the agricultural sector. Cottage and small-scale industries are minor
economic activities carried out in the market centres.
Effects of COVID-19
Several economic activities were disrupted as Markets were closed to prevent spread of
COVID-19 including Ishiara market which is the largest goat market in the county. Other
markets that were closed included Karaba, Kiritiri, Gachoka, and Kianjokoma. The public
sector was not an exemption as Embu GK Prison was locked down due to fear of spread of the
COVID-19 after some prisoners tested positive. Law courts were also closed limiting service
delivery. Bars and entertainment joins were also closed. The county government relocated
the miraa market from the central business district to Embu Stadium as a precaution. Miraa
traders were required to pay Ksh 50 each daily for maintaining cleanliness at the stadium.
The unemployment level has increased during the period of COVID-19, according to May
2020 KNBS COVID-19 Survey, 13.1 per cent of the county labour force worked at least for
1 hour for pay; 8.1 per cent had never worked, and 78.6 per cent worked in the informal
sector. However, 2.4 per cent of employees did not attend to work due to COVID-19 and
86.8 per cent of employees worked without any pay. On average, workers in the County lost
11.7 hours per week due to COVID-19; 67.0 per cent of county residents recorded decrease
in income while 5.0 per cent recorded increase in their income.
During the pandemic, about 10.6 per cent of workers in the county were casual workers
47.7 per cent were regular workers (full time), 5.1 per cent employees were working as
part time. However, majority of these workers (48.3%) reported decrease in income while
1.5 per cent of people reported to have experienced increased income. These could be the
people working in the health sector who are supplying medical equipment such as masks
and PPEs. About 12.4 per cent of workers indicated to have benefited from government tax
exemptions which indicates about 87 per cent did not benefit from National government
tax relief for low-income-earning persons, a reduction in the top Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE)
rate, and other changes such as cash transfers, credit relief, lower VAT, and a corporate tax
cut.
95
Figure 12.1: Effects of COVID-19, 2020

a) Effect of COVID-19 on Jobs b) Effect of COVID-19 on Incomes
Source: KNBS (2020)

According to the May 2020 KNBS COVID_19 Survey, the manufacturing sector reported
the highest level of loss of hours worked (33.5 hours) followed by workers in financial and
insurance activities (figure 12.2). Workers in transportation and storage and education
lost a total of 23.8 hours and 20 hours per week, respectively. Workers in other service
activities recorded an average loss of 16.4 hours and 15.6 hours per week, respectively. The
loss of working hours in service and agriculture (7.5 hours) sectors which contributes to
44.0 per cent and 38.4 per cent of County GDP respectively, implied the county economy
was negatively affected.
Figure 12.2: Difference between usual hours worked and actual hours worked
during COVID-19 period
Source: KNBS (2020)

According to the May 2020 KNBS COVID-19 Survey, 67.0 per cent of workers in Embu
county recorded decreased income; 5 per cent reported increase in income; while 86.8 per
cent recorded working as unpaid workers. The county recorded 78.6 per cent of workers in
informal sector and 2.4 per cent never attended to work due to COVID-19 related issues. In
96
private sector schools, teachers and other workers lost their incomes. Some other businesses
such as bars and hotels totally closed, leading to reduced business activities. Workers
in the transport sector were rendered jobless due to restrictions of moving in and out of
Nairobi and Mombasa counties; and reduced movement within Embu County. On average,
the county lost 11.7 hours worked in a week, this indicating that although the measures
that were imposed by the Government to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 contributed
positively towards managing the pandemic; they had significant economic repercussions
with implications on job losses.
12.2 Opportunities with COVID-19 in labour participation sector
The county government have been provided with the opportunity to use digital platforms to
enable remote access to jobs for their employees where the Human Resource Management
will have an essential role to play in navigation of the situation caused by the pandemic.
There had been notable efforts by the county government to invest more money in training
health workers. The county government now has an opportunity to reskill its employees and
develop strategies (mid- and post-pandemic strategies) to adapt to any future pandemic.
12.3 Emerging issues
With the widespread stay-at-home orders, most of county employers were adjusting
operations and shifting workforces online.
(i) Create more employment opportunities through the development of pro

employment policies; investment in education and training and skills development;
and investments within the key sectors of agriculture. The county will establish
Macadamia oil processing plant to improve the livelihood of county residents and job
creation.
(ii) The County has high gender inequalities and low women empowerment. The county
will need to promote women’s empowerment through income generating initiatives
and affirmative action programmes for better health outcomes for youth and women.
(iii) Enhance universal health access through publicly financed health services for all,
including uninsured workers and their families. The county will invest in community
and public health including community health workers, water, sanitation and
immunization.
(iv) Strengthen the capacity of workers in ICT skills amidst COVID-19 pandemic.
(v) Improve access to finance for small and medium enterprises through lending
institutions for sustained business. In addition, build capacity in areas related to
marketing, operations, finance, and human resource development to enhance the
chances of survival of SMEs.
97
(vi) Encourage more investors to invest in Embu county by offering incentives such as
tariff exemptions and tax waiver. This will enable individuals establish businesses
therefore creating employment opportunities.
98
13. Conclusion and Key Recommendations
13.1 Conclusion
Fiscal policy
It is evident that much of expenditure particularly development expenditure happens in

third and fourth quarters of the fiscal year, with the latter showing stronger performance.
This pattern reveals systemic weaknesses in county public investment management
system. Total county revenues grew from Ksh 3.60 billion in 2013/14 to Ksh 6.41 billion in
2020/21, an average annual growth rate of 6.8 per .OSR contributed 7.76 per cent to total
revenues in 2013/14 and increased to 12.35 per cent of total revenues in 2020/21Wage bill
has largely exceeded 35 per cent of county actual expenditure averaging 56.8 per cent while
development spending averaging 21.5 per cent. Priority expenditure has been on non-
administrative and non-coordinational functions such as health, education, agriculture,
roads etc., accounting for an average of 70.6 per cent of actual expenditure. Health
sector leads at 31.1 per cent. Administrative and coordinational functions such as county
executive, county assembly, public service management and finance account for 29.4 per
cent of expenditure.
The agri-food analysis highlights the sector was negatively affected by COVID-19 in terms
of labour supply, trade and marketing operations, food supply and the resulting effects
on food prices. The County’s agricultural productivity is also affected by: - variable and
extreme weather events; dependence of rain fed agriculture; low agro-processing and value
addition opportunities; land fragmentation; low access to quality and affordable inputs;
low crops, livestock, and livestock products marketing opportunities; poor access to
agricultural finance; low access to major off-farm services including extension, climate and
market information, and credit services; and pests and livestock diseases; and farm losses
and post-harvest waste. This adversely affects the productivity of the sector and impairs
marketing and consequently places livelihoods and food security at risk especially in times
of emergencies. The analysis calls for strategies to enhance productivity, profitability, and
resilience of the sector for improved livelihoods.
Water sanitation and hygiene
Most households rely on surface water, dug well as well as piped water among urban
households. dug well, to minimize the risks of households missing water, it is important
to put in place measures to ensure protection of water resources for continuity of access to
clean and safe water by households.
99
The momentum in manufacturing, trade and MSMEs was disrupted by the COVID-19
pandemic as the containment measures associated with COVID-19 pandemic took a heavy
toll on the sector. In sustaining growth and building resilience in this sector, it is important
to expand trade and strengthen production capacity of MSMEs and especially those
involved in manufacturing by exploiting opportunities afforded by the pandemic such as
production of masks, PPEs, hospital beds, ventilators, reagents, gloves, and sanitizers.
However, it is also critical to ensure the transitioning out of such products is well managed
as the Covid-19 pandemic slows.
Infrastructure, housing, and urban development
The main means of transport used in the County is walking followed by motorbike. The
paved County Road network covers 56.09 km, while the paved National roads cover 239.17
km. Out of the total paved road network of 295.26 km, 84.4 per cent is in good condition,
9.7 per cent in fair condition and 4.7 per cent in poor condition. The status of ICT access and
use in the county was low, especially among households. The perception that the individual
does not need to use the internet, lack of knowledge and skills on internet are the leading
reasons that the people in the County do not have internet connection, as well as accessing
internet elsewhere. The housing tenure is predominantly owner occupied at 73.0 per cent,
with 27.0 per cent of the households under rental tenure. The county has challenges in
quality of the housing stock.
Tourism
Tourism has a high potential in Embu County for both local and international tourists. The
Mwea game reserve is the only protected area in which the globally threatened and Kenya-
endemic Hinde’s babbler is known to occur. Embu is also a gateway to Mt. Kenya which,
if aggressively marketed can bring huge incomes to the county. Other attractions include
3751 Ha of forests that supports eco-tourism; Agro-tourism (coffee and tea plantations);
medical tourism (Traditional herbalists and medicine men; Embu Referral Hospital).
Development and recurrent expenditure incurred on the Trade, Tourism, Investment, and
Industrialization sector in 2013-2017 was only 1.2 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively of
the total spending; while in the same period, accommodation and food services accounted
for 0.8 per cent of total GCP. This indicating the need to prioritize development of the
tourism sector.
Health
COVID 19 has worsened the situation as far as youths and women are concerned. These are
the groups of people that have been facing several challenges even before the outbreak of
the COVID 19. FGM and Gender based violence cases have increased with the lock down.
Youths who are entrepreneurs have also been affected losing jobs and businesses due to the
lockdown. Other problems facing youths includes teenage pregnancies, malnutrition, STI/
HIV and Aids, poor environment, drug and substance abuse and malnutrition
100
Conclusion and key recommendations
The County had gaps in early childhood development through infrastructural development
to allow for adequate social distancing; deployment of ECDE teachers and provision of
sanitation facilities. The county recorded low completion rates at all levels of education.
Social Protection
COVID-19 pandemic created immediate and long-term economic consequences for

vulnerable groups including children, PWDs, elderly and their families. In an effort to
strengthen social protection response in face of a similar pandemic, the county government
will need to provide basic income security, especially for persons whose jobs or livelihoods
have been disrupted by the pandemic. Build linkages with other Ministries, and with NGOs
that work with people with disabilities to strengthen families, deliver assistive devices,
reduce barriers to access and provide vocational training.
The COVID-19 pandemic has expedited the speed at which different firms and businesses
within the county are changing their pay programmes through pay reductions and
incentive resets. It is important for the County to promote implementation of appropriate
labour market interventions especially those working in the agricultural sector, which is a
major employer in the County and policy reforms that drive employment creation. Deepen
technical education, training and skills development.
13.2 Key Recommendations
Fiscal Policy
To steer the county towards achieving its budgetary objective and development goals
contained in the ADPs and CIDP; mobilize more finances from OSR to increase the
available revenues for budgetary operations, seek for more funding in form of grants
from development partners to cater for the critical development projects in the county,
ensure that the ongoing projects are completed before launching new project and clear any
pending bills and arrears owed to suppliers and ensure the ongoing infrastructure project
are completed and suppliers paid within the specified timelines for optimal returns to
investment and to spur private sector activity.
To successfully build resilience and enhance growth of the agriculture sector: explore
partnerships to develop agro-processing and value addition capacities at the County; invest
in sustainable irrigation and water harvesting technologies; enhance access to storage and
cooling facilities; enhanced commercialization opportunities among small holder farmers;
link farmers to diverse product markets; strengthen the County’s institutional capacity
in disaster surveillance and management; enhance farmers access to critical agricultural
inputs and services and build their technical capacity to act on information obtained; and
strengthen agricultural cooperatives.
101
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
To build resilience and mitigate the effect of COVID-19, increase water supply in
households, institutions, and public places through drilling of boreholes, dams, and access
to piped water in all the sub-counties. Promote the use of safe and improved toilets in
schools, health care facilities, workplaces, and public places by connecting households to
piped sewer. Promote handwashing as a stop gap measure against COVID-19.
To sustain growth in the manufacturing, trade and MSMEs sector: Develop a land
development strategy that safeguards the high potential agricultural land by setting the
urban growth limits to preserve the high potential areas and regulate the subdivision
of this land; Develop urban-based agro-industries in Embu town to focus on proximity
to agricultural raw materials and promote agricultural value addition; Promote rural
development through provision of infrastructure and agricultural sector development and
related economic activities; and Enhance agricultural production by intensifying the use of
the land.
Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development
Improve and expand infrastructure for Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) in urban areas
and along roads with heavy -high speed traffic to promote sustainable mobility options and
enhance road safety for all road users; speed up the construction of fiber-optic broadband
networks in underdeveloped areas; and avail appropriate building technology for use by
the public in house construction and improvement in every sub-county, that responds to
local cultural and environmental circumstances.
Tourism
For recovery of the tourism sector, promote domestic tourism to cushion the economy
from impacts of travel advisories and constraints caused by the pandemic on international
tourist arrivals, regular maintenance of tourism attraction sites, tourism marketing and
promotion, diversification of tourism products, opening of access routes to the tourist sites,
community sensitization on tourist sites in the county, promotion of eco-tourism, cultural
and sports tourism in the 6 main rivers (Tana, Rupingazi, Kii, Ena, Thiba, Thuci) and two
hydro-electric dams, development of tourism infrastructure (route to Mt. Kenya, star-rated
hotels, tourist sites, tented camps), enforcing guidelines on high sanitation standards for
the hospitality sector to stop the spread of COVID-19 and other pandemics while ensuring
business continuity and inspect all the tourism establishments in the county and train
tourism service providers.
Health
For a resilient health sector, create more awareness on immunization so that mothers can
ensure their children get immunized. Implement a comprehensive human resource health
management system including undertaking training needs assessments and information
system to ensure skilled and motivated health care workers, equitable deployed across all
sub-counties. Pay salaries in time to avoid cases of strikes and low staff morale. Recruit
102
additional of public health officers and community health workers to strengthen preventive
and public health systems.
Education and Training
The County with support from stakeholders to invest in early childhood development
through infrastructural development; deployment of ECDE teachers and provision of
sanitation facilities. Provide financial or in-kind support, such as school feeding, to help
families overcome the increased costs of attending school and provide psychosocial support
to teachers and learners during and after the pandemic.
Social Protection
Build linkages with other Ministries, and with NGOs that work with vulnerable groups
to strengthen families, deliver assistive devices, reduce barriers to access and provide
vocational training. Undertake research to get a better understanding of the actual situation
of disability and chronic illness in the County, and to map existing initiatives on social
protection to improve on targeting to reach all those who deserve support
Labour Participation
Enhance investments and mechanisms for up skilling and reskilling, deepening technical
skills as well as ICT skills; and retraining employees on how to work from home, where
applicable. Protect workers in the informal economy by pursuing innovative policies to
reach them quickly through a combination of non-contributory and contributory social
security schemes and facilitate their transition to the formal economy in the longer term.
103
Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis
Bishops Garden Towers, Bishops Road
P.O. Box 56445-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 20 4936000; +254 20 2719933/4
Fax: +254 20 2719951
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.kippra.org

Embu County

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Embu County

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Embu County

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Socio-Economic Status of

Embu County with COVID-19

Eldah Onsomu, Rose Ngugi, Evelyne Kihiu, Mutuku

KENYA INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY

Socio-Economic Status of Embu County with

Eldah Onsomu, Rose Ngugi, Evelyne Kihiu, Mutuku

Kenya Institute for Public Policy

Abbreviations and Acronyms................................................................................................ ix

1. Introduction and structure of Embu County Economy ................ 1

2. Fiscal Policy .................................................................................7

3. Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries..........................................18

4. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene .................................................32

5. Manufacturing, Trade and MSMEs............................................ 43

7. Housing and Urban Development..............................................67

10. Education and Training............................................................. 83

12. Labour Participation................................................................. 94

13. Conclusion and Key Recommendations.................................... 99

List of Tables and Figures

Table 1.1: Development indicators in Embu County.............................................................................. 1

Figure 1.1: Structure of the Embu County economy, 2017......................................................................4

ADPs - Annual Development Plans

Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Manufacturing, Trade and MSMEs

Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban development

Education and Training

Persons with disability 4.4% 2.2%

Youth 15-34 years (%) 34.0% 36.1%

Labour force (15-64 years) (%) 59.1% 55.0%

Elderly population (over 65-year-old) 6.4% 3.9%

Number of COVID-19 cases (as at 11th September 109 0.34% of the

Data Source: KNBS (2019)

Data Source: KNBS (2019)

1.2 Level of socio-economic deprivations

Knowledge of health Participated in 56.9

Source: KIHBS 2015/2016

1.3 Structure of Embu County Economy

Figure 1.1: Structure of the Embu County economy, 2017

Data Source: KNBS (2019)

1.4 COVID-19 Caseload and Implications of Mobility Restrictions

Date Total cases Mobility stringency (0-100)

Data Source: Oxford University

Data Source: Oxford University

County revenue analysis

Availability of financial resources is critical in implementing county operations. Timely and

Transfers from National Government

Data Source: Office of the Controller of Budget (Various reports)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Oct Nov Dec

2021 2,492.58 2,908.51 - - - - 1,281.31 - -

2017 - - 2,591.75 2,987.39 3,726.30 4,434.77 617.15 - -

2016 - - 2,359.00 3,044.24 3,385.89 3,385.89 - - -

Data source: Gazette Notice (Various issues)

Own Source Revenue

Data Source: Office of the Controller of Budget (Various reports)

Data Source: Office of the Controller of Budget (Various reports)

Single Business 55,643,804 63,454,991 58,079,141 89,090,298 79,277,460 345,545,694

Street and Bus 29,436,490 34,299,301 32,245,595 27,709,473 29,831,400 153,522,259

Land Rates and 11,845,091 11,708,149 12,460,639 13,753,276 16,675,005 66,442,160

House Stall 5,766,520 12,295,191 7,949,533 6,924,311 18,880,855 51,816,410

Technical 1,170,100 12,718,519 5,707,504 4,219,869 4,687,350 28,503,342