Nairobi, Aug. 5 -- Private firms in Kenya stepped up recruitment of workers on short-term contracts in July as they raced to cope with rising new orders despite overall production contracting for a fifth consecutive month, signalling an uneven economic recovery.

The latest Stanbic Bank Kenya Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) showed that employment growth in July was the fastest since January 2026, while output remained subdued, reflecting a mixed-picture of growing confidence among firms and persistent supply-side constraints.

The report showed that companies received more customer orders, even though many struggled to keep pace because imported materials continue to arrive late while fuel and transport costs remain elevated, squeezing m...