Kenya's private sector activity contracted in March for the first time since August 2025, with the Purchasing Managers' Index falling to 47.7 from 50.4 in February. The contraction snapped a six-month growth streak, driven by weak consumer demand and global disruptions exacerbated by the Middle East war. Separately, Nairobi Business Ventures, a diversified company with interests in aviation, heavy vehicle maintenance, retail, and manufacturing, issued a profit warning for the financial year ending March 2026, anticipating a significant decline in earnings due to challenging market conditions. These developments highlight the broader economic pressure on Kenya's private sector, with multiple businesses reporting difficulties stemming from weak market conditions.







