NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya's economy grew at the highest rate for two decades last year, reaching 6.1 percent thanks to the strong performance of the tourism, retail and communications sectors.The government's annual economic report for 2006, released yesterday, showed the growth rate topping 2005's 5.7 percent.

In recent years, Kenya, East Africa's largest economy, has lagged behind neighbours Tanzania and Uganda, which have regularly registered economic growth rates of above 6 percent. The last time Kenya had similar growth rates was in the mid-1980s. The growth rates cover a calendar year, January to December.