Browsing: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS)

Kenya National Treasury.
  • Kenya's forex reserves dipped to $6.2 billion on May 19, an eight-year low, before a slight improvement to $6.4 billion on May 26.
  • At $6.4 billion, Kenya's reserves are just 3.60 months of import cover, which is below the Central Bank of Kenya’s desired target.
  • What's more, the reserves are below the East Africa Community preferred threshold of 4.5 months of import cover, hence exposing the country to high volatilities in the global market.

A dip in export earnings, coupled with reducing diaspora inflows at a time of huge debt repayments have left Kenya grappling with low forex reserves, raising concerns on the health of East Africa's economic powerhouse.

The low forex reserves are further compounding the dollar shortage problem that has been gripping importers for months. Importers, mainly in the manufacturing and the energy sectors, have been struggling to secure the greenback to replenish their suppliers.

Kenya's forex reserves

Kenya's tea sector
  • Across the East Africa region, Rwanda posted the strongest performance.
  • Uganda’s economy grew by 4.4 percent in 2022 compared to a 6.7 percent uptick in 2021.
  • Tanzania’s real GDP expanded by 4.5 percent in 2022 compared to 4.9 percent growth in 2021.

Kenya’s economy recorded a slower growth of 4.8 percent last year as agriculture slumped due to severe drought. In 2021, Kenya posted 7.6 percent growth as the country emerged from Covid-19 induced economic fallout.

Latest data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics show that East Africa’s economic powerhouse growth outpaced its neighbours. Kenya saw its nominal GDP increase to $98.24 billion, from $87.98 billion in 2021, retaining its pole position over East African peers.

Uganda’s economy grew by 4.4 percent in 2022 compared to a 6.7 percent growth in 2021. The marginal drop was partly on account of recovery in hospitality and other service sectors as schools …

Kenya’s inflation has marginally dropped for the third straight month providing relief to households that have been battling runaway inflation since April last year.

The overall year-on-year inflation rate as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 9.0 per cent in January 2023, down from 9.1 per cent in December and 9.5 per cent in November last year.

It hit a five-year high of 9.6 per cent in October 2022, data by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows. The lower inflation (measure of the cost of living) in January however remains above the preferred ceiling of 7.5 per cent.

According to the government statistician, the high inflation was due to increase in prices of commodities under transport (13.1%), food and non-alcoholic beverages (12.8%) and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (7.3%) between January 2022 and January 2023.

These three divisions account for over 57 per …

Kenya's population has grown by 9.9 million people over the last ten years to reach 47.6 million. President Kenyatta says the current census results will guide successful planning and implementation of government development initiatives, including the Big Four Agenda.

Kenya’s population has grown by 9.9 million people over the last ten years to reach 47.6 million this year, latest official government data has revealed.

According to the 2019 ‘Kenya Population and Housing Census’ results presented to President Uhuru Kenyatta this week at State House Nairobi, the total population enumerated during the census exercise conducted in August this year was 47,564,296 persons.

https://www.knbs.or.ke/?p=5621

The results indicate that the female population which stands at 24,014,716 accounts for 50.5 per cent of the total population while the male population is 23,548,056 persons.

The 2019 census report, presented to the Head of State by Director General of the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Zachary Mwangi shows that Nairobi is the most populous county in the country.

Nairobi , which is also Kenya’s capital city, has a population of 4.4 million people followed by Kiambu (2.4 million), Nakuru (2.16 million), Kakamega (1.87 million) …

Most entrepreneurs have not prepared a succession plan for their businesses in case of their departure which has led to the collapse of many Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in the demise or the absence of the business owner. Many SMEs also do not have comprehensive risk and asset management solutions. SMEs must develop a succession plan for their businesses according to Invest In Africa (IIA), a Not-for-Profit entity which is working to enhance the skills, improve access to markets and finance of SMEs. The institution which has partnered with a number of huge companies is leveraging on its online platform–Biashara.Now to create linkages between SMEs, suppliers and financiers.

Most entrepreneurs have not prepared a business succession plan for their businesses in case of their departure, industry players have noted, which has led to the collapse of many Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in the demise or the absence of the business owner.

In most cases, it is the owner who carries the vision of the business and ensures that the business remains afloat.

Additionally, most SME’s do not have comprehensive risk and asset management solutions, which leaves them greatly exposed to manageable risks and therefore stand a very slim chance of recovering their business in case of an event.

This was reported during an Invest In Africa-Kenya and Liberty Life Insurance forum in Nairobi this week, attended by over 60 SMEs.

The forum was convened to discuss business sustainability beyond the owner under the theme: “Beyond the Business: Is there tomorrow for your company?”

Speaking at the event, …

Over 50 per cent of Kenyan manufacturers feel the sector is struggling to compete with developed countries with equal pressure coming from regional states, a study has revealed. This is in the wake of continued high costs of doing business in Kenya with the local market further being infiltrated by cheap imports mainly from China. The study has been unveiled by SYSPRO, a global provider of industry-built Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software for manufacturers and distributors, together with Strathmore University. The cost of energy in Kenya leads as the top factor affecting businesses.

Over 50 per cent of Kenyan manufacturers feel the sector is struggling to compete with developed countries with equal pressure coming from regional states, a study has revealed.

This is in the wake of continued high costs of doing business in the country with the local market further being infiltrated by cheap imports mainly from China.

READ:What is hurting manufacturing in Kenya

The study has been unveiled by SYSPRO, a global provider of industry-built Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software for manufacturers and distributors, together with Strathmore University.

External factors

In the findings, energy leads as the top factor affecting businesses with a 54 per cent prevalence followed solely by the country’s political climate which accounts for 50 per cent of effect to investments.

The third most toxic factor affecting businesses is taxes with 43 per cent prevalence. Others are cheap imports (40%), exchange rates and raw materials each at …

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has initiated a scheme aimed at promoting and entrenching a quality culture amongst Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya. The move is a strategy to prepare local businesses to tap into the Africa Continental Free Trade Area which is slowly taking shape, with Kenya having already ratified the pact.There are also increased efforts to improve the quality of Kenyan products to meet international standards, which will help Kenyan manufacturers and producers increase their exports to foreign markets. Kenya is keen to improve the quality of local produces to gain a huge market in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has initiated Kenya Quality Award (KQA), a scheme aimed at promoting and entrenching a quality culture amongst Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya.

This comes in the wake of increased efforts to improve the quality of local products to meet international standards, which will help Kenyans manufacturers and producers increase Kenyan exports to foreign markets.

The move is also as a strategy to prepare local businesses to tap into the Africa Continental Free Trade Area which is slowly taking shape.

READ:What Africa stand to gain from ACFTA

Designed to recognize MSMEs striving to produce quality product and which already have a valid Standardization Mark of Quality (SMark), the KQA programme will additionally assist MSMEs to initiate, develop and implement quality management systems to a status of certification.

Speaking during the KQA launch ceremony, Kebs acting managing director Lt. Col. (Rtd). Bernard …

Kenya's population has grown by 9.9 million people over the last ten years to reach 47.6 million. President Kenyatta says the current census results will guide successful planning and implementation of government development initiatives, including the Big Four Agenda.

Nine out of ten (87 per cent) of Kenyans are dissatisfied with the country’s direction on economic management, a survey has revealed, casting doubt on governments’ commitment to deliver on its promises.

The proportion of citizens who express dissatisfaction, according to a report released in Nairobi this week, has been increasing since 2016 when five out of ten citizens (53%) were unhappy.

Citizens are equally dissatisfied with the country’s direction on job creation (82 per cent) which again is higher compared to the past years, since 2016, when half of citizens (51%) were unhappy.

This is despite the Economic Survey 2019 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS)-released in April-indicating the economy grew by 6.3 per cent in 2018 compared to 4.9 per cent in 2017, creating 840,600 new jobs.

READ:How Kenya managed to grow its economy by 6.3%

Corruption is one of the major concerns by majority …

Over 50 per cent of Kenyan manufacturers feel the sector is struggling to compete with developed countries with equal pressure coming from regional states, a study has revealed. This is in the wake of continued high costs of doing business in Kenya with the local market further being infiltrated by cheap imports mainly from China. The study has been unveiled by SYSPRO, a global provider of industry-built Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software for manufacturers and distributors, together with Strathmore University. The cost of energy in Kenya leads as the top factor affecting businesses.

33% of manufacturers in the country plan to reduce the number of full time employees

Only 48 per cent of manufacturers in Kenya have expressed optimism that the sector would grow this year, a latest survey has revealed, as investments in the country continue to face headwinds.

According to the Q1 ‘Manufacturing Barometer’ by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM),  the biggest worry by industry players over the next six months (61 per cent) is the high cost of  raw materials, which is making their products uncompetitive both locally, regional and in the  international markets.

About 57 per cent are worried about pressure from increased wages, 54 per cent are concerned over decreasing profitability while 48 per cent fear that taxation policies in the country will affect their businesses.

Oil and energy prices which have remained high worries 43 per cent of the surveyed manufacturers in the country, the study …

Red Sea Shipping Disruptions

China dominates as Kenya’s top import source globally 

Uganda is Kenya’s biggest trading partner within the East Africa Community (EAC), latest data show, with China dominating the global scene.

The Economic survey (2019) shows total trade volumes (import and exports) between Kenya and Uganda in the year 2018, were valued at Ksh111.3 billion (USD1.09 billion).

Tanzania comes in a distant second with a total trade value of Ksh47.6 billion (USD468.9 million) while Rwanda is third with Ksh19 billion (USD187.2 million).

Trade with DR Congo, South Sudan and Burundi, mainly export markets for Kenya, were valued at Ksh15.2 billion (USD149.6 million), Ksh12.9 billion (USD127.1 million) and Ksh6.6 billion (USD65.02 million) respectively.

Uganda

During the year under review, Uganda increased the value of its exports to Kenya by 17.6 per cent to close at Ksh49.4 billion (USD486.7 million), from Ksh42 billion (USD413.8 million) in 2017.

READ:Uganda keen on enhancing exports to