Kenya’s private sector activity has contracted for the second month in a row, as indicated by the latest Stanbic Bank Kenya Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), which dropped to 48.6 in June from 49.6 in May.

• PMI reading below 50.0 indicates ongoing economic challenges.
• Comments from Christopher Legilisho, an economist at Standard Bank, highlight issues like reduced consumer spending and operational disruptions due to protests.
• Despite the downturn, 18% of firms are optimistic about increasing output in the coming year.