The economy of Kenema District is largely based on Farming, Diamond mining and trade.

Kenema District is a political stronghold of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP).

The District overwhelmingly supports the SLPP by a large majority in Presidential, Parliamentary and local councils elections.

[4] Kenema District currently has eleven directly elected Representatives in the Sierra Leone House of Parliament; and ten of the eleven members belong to the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP).

Since the emergence of the Second Liberian Civil War in 1999, Kenema District along with Bo District served more than 60,000 Liberian refugees Kenema has a mixed economy, made up of gold and diamond mining as well as agricultural production of coffee, cacao and rice.

Kenema is home to Sierra Leonean Premier League club the Kamboi Eagles.