Nairobi, May 6 -- Kenya's private sector activity contracted for the second month in a row in April on costly fuel following the Iran war that hit consumer demand, forcing firms to tap more casual workers to contain wage bills.

The latest Stanbic Bank Kenya Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) shows the index rose marginally to 49.4 last month up from 47.7 in March, staying below the 50-point threshold that signals growth.

The reading points to a continued deterioration in operating conditions, even as the pace of decline eased compared to March. The March figure was the first time since August 2025 that the index went below 50.

Firms increased hiring, the survey says, but increasingly favoured short-term and flexible hiring arrangements o...