By BRIAN NGUGIMore by this AuthorKenya’s manufacturing activity expanded for the first time in two years in January this year on the back of improving business conditions, according to the latest Stanbic Bank-HIS Markit Purchasing Manager’s Index. The study says private sector activity slid slightly to 52.9 points in January from 53 points in December signalling “a solid improvement in business conditions.”Despite the fall the study shows that overall private sector growth or buying activity was the second-strongest since December 2016. “Output rose to its highest level since January 2016, a trend we suspect is likely to persist over the coming year,” said Jibran Qureishi, regional economist east Africa at Stanbic Bank. Mr Qureishi projected that the business conditions are likely to look up in the first half of 2018 owing to a revamped agriculture. Many businesses have suffered a slowdown blamed on political uncertainty brought about by the extended electioneering.

Source: Daily Nation February 06, 2018 06:45 UTC