Companies and businesses around the country are feeling the pinch, grappling with a significant slowdown in activity as rising prices hit the pockets of ordinary Kenyans, making them less willing and able to spend.
This downturn, revealed in a key economic survey, deals a fresh blow to job creation, as companies struggle to sustain their workforce without robust sales.
The latest Stanbic Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) - a crucial barometer of the health of Kenya's private sector - dipped below the critical 50-point mark in May, signalling a contraction for the first time in eight months.
The PMI is a national report card for businesses; a reading above 50 means the economy is growing, while a score below 50 indicates a slowdown.
