This paper analyses the patterns of productivity and economic growth in the aggregated Kenyan agriculture between 1964 and 1996. In the 1964-1973 period, the average output growth exceeded 4% but stagnated to an average of 1.2% during 1988-1996. Over the whole period, capital was the most important contributor to output growth. Mean growth rates of intermediate inputs subsequently decreased and were negative in 1988-1996. Labour was the least significant source of growth. The mean total factor productivity growth was less than 0.4% and decreased over time. The contribution of productivity growth to output growth increased from 10.2% in 1964-1973 to 26.8% in 1988-1996. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.