Kenya private sector activity shrinks for first time since August 2025

Kenya's private sector activity contracted in March for the first time since August, partly due to the war in the Middle East, with only the wholesale and retail sectors experiencing expansion, a survey showed on Tuesday. The Stanbic Bank Kenya Purchasing Managers' Index fell to 47.7 in March from 50.4 in February, the survey showed. Readings above 50.0 indicate growth in business activity, while those below that signal contraction. It is the first time since August 2025 that the index has gone below 50.