Browsing: Doing Business in Kenya

• Business activity in Kenya increased in September, helped by the conclusion of the general election 
• The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) commissioned by Stanbic Bank shows that the growth in business activity in Kenya was the first recorded in seven months 
• As a result, the headline index posted in September was at 51.7, up sharply from 44.2 in August.
• The reading signalled a renewed and modest improvement in overall business conditions.

A new report has shown that the conclusion of the general election in Kenya led to increased business activity in the country in September.

According to the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) commissioned by Stanbic Bank, the growth in business activity in Kenya was the first recorded in seven months.

Business activity in Kenya was supported by customer demand growth following the general elections’ end.

It was also supported by an improvement in supply chains, encouraging firms to purchase more …

Kenyan businesses can now heave a sigh of relief after court has finally granted an injunction on minimum tax case.

In January this year, eight business associations representing the business community in Kenya have come together to call for the abolishment of the 1 per cent minimum tax introduced by the government. 

The new bill which was to take effect on 1^st  January this year was introduced through the Finance Bill, 2020 (the Bill). 

The bill was tabled in the National Assembly for debate and approval on 6 May 2020. This was a departure from previous years where finance bills would be introduced to the National Assembly after the reading of the national budget in June. This change was necessitated by recent constitutional interpretations issued by the court which barred the government from collecting taxes before the relevant tax provisions are approved by the …

CARGO dwell time at the Port of Mombasa has reduced from an average of 5.6 days in December 2020 to 4.6 days in January 2021.

This follows a raft of strategic operational changes implemented by the Authority. Recently Kenya Ports Authority took over the operations at Port Reitz Yard and reorganized the planning units of the logistics partners, increasing harmony in the operations of the unit hence increasing end-to-end efficiency in the port operations.

Dangerous cargo loading which was previously experiencing great delays due to distance of the loading zone from stacking blocks was improved by allowing it to be loaded at the now optimized line 12 at Port Reitz which is more efficient especially for cargo received at Container Terminal 2.

Additionally, centralization of the cargo handling processes and the recently introduced double deck wagons on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) have significantly contributed to increased deliveries to the …

Selected industry players in the maritime sector will be feted for remaining resilient in the hard economic times dotted by global pandemic.

Kenya Ports Authority’s second East Africa Maritime Awards (EAMA) ceremony is scheduled to take place on May 21, 2021 in Mombasa, Kenya.

The Awards which seek to recognize and award notable users of the Port of Mombasa and individual players are open to companies from across the breadth of the maritime sector, comprising the shipping, ports, services, engineering, and leisure marine industries with operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Speaking in Mombasa, Kenya Ports Authority Ag. Managing Director Eng. Rashid Salim said the Awards had come at a time the local, regional and global economies were facing a period of significant challenge following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has tested all sectors of the …

Only 14 percent of Small and Medium Size Companies  access legal services in Kenya according to a new report by KIOI & CO Advocates.

The report which was released at the launch of the firm’s virtual legal services, indicated that over 70 percent of SMEs do not access legal services citing cost as the major factor. With over 100, 000 companies registered in Kenya every year, very few make it to their third birthday mostly due to compliance issues.

“Some of the major legal problems affecting SMEs include poorly drawn contracts or no contracts at all, little or no legal advice on agreements, bank loans as well as failure to meet compliance set by the law ,” said Angela Kioi, founder, Kioi & Co  Advocates.

According to Company Registrar there are 326 new business registrations across Kenya daily, however many SMEs cite prohibitive legal fees as a barrier to engaging …

When Covid-19 came flooding, small businesses were especially hard-hit with 31% stopping operations as a result of the crisis, according to Facebook’s State of Small Business report. But even in these unprecedented times, business must go on. Here are some strategies some businesses have successfully used to address the challenges you may also be facing. 

Leveraging on strategic relationships 

This has especially been seen in the food industry where restaurants and eateries are suffering from reduced foot traffic. Enter cloud kitchens. The lockdown period enabled restaurants, home cooks and chefs to offer food directly to customers via websites, apps, social media and mobile contacts. This new development has it that the global cloud kitchen market will grow to $236 trillion by 2026. For instance, Moh Wingz and Bwibo blew up during the lockdown period. 

Also Read: Promoting Intra-Africa Trade: Pathway To Unlocking Africa’s Economic Potential 

Digital …

By Caroline K. 

There is something very … approachable about Mary; she gives off a welcoming presence. As the owner of a successful public relations company, she is a pioneer in her own right. Having started the business at the age of 23, she has come a long way to becoming the person she is now. She shares on what has made her journey a successful one this far. 

1. In your opinion, what does it take to run a successful PR company? 

To be honest, I wouldn’t want to make it sound like there is a one-size fits all formulae for success but I will share what has worked for me. One: discovering myself, what my strengths are and what I am truly wired for. Two: my relationship with God; this has moulded me into a patient individual and has taught me how to perseverant.  

1. How have things changed