Does Primary Education Generate Returns in Kenya? Evidence from a Mincerian Earnings Model

James Murambi, Epari Ejakait and Geoffrey Musera
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology
0009-0009-0736-8995
, 0000-0003-3895-9623
, and 0000-0001-8494-4778
Email: murambijames@gmail.com

Abstract: This study investigates the conditional wage association accruing from primary educational attainment in Kenya using the Mincerian earnings framework and cross-sectional data from the 2022 Kenya Continuous Household Survey. We examine the relationship between an extra year of primary education and an individual’s gross monthly wages and salary while accounting for labour market experience and observable individual-level worker characteristics. The findings suggest that primary education yields insignificant returns of 0.08%. However, spatial, gendered, and age-related returns exist in the labor market. Specifically, returns to experience are concave, with an extra year of age associated with a 0.74% increase in wages, while male workers earn 69.24% compared to their female counterparts. The findings also point to rural wage penalty implying that the labour market value of primary education is driven by spatial differences. Accordingly, improving the quality and labour market relevance of primary education remains a priority, while spatial and gendered policies in earnings must be continuously addressed.