NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 3 – Hiring by private firms in Kenya rose in September at the fastest pace since May 2023, driven by higher sales in agriculture and manufacturing, the Stanbic Bank Kenya Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) shows.
“Employment meanwhile increased due to gains from new orders and output. However, low sales in recent months led to sustained weakness in firms’ buying decisions; quantities purchased fell in September, although inventory stocks rose,” the report noted.
The PMI climbed to 51.9 in September, up from 49.4 in August and above the neutral 50.0 mark for the first time since April, signaling expansion. About 33 percent of surveyed firms reported output growth during the month, compared to 23 percent that recorded a decline.
“Business conditions expanded in September, implying the start of a recovery after the disruptions that followed protests in Q2:25. New orders and output strengthened as consumer demand improved, despite some firms reporting caution from clients due to still challenging economic conditions,” the PMI added.
