Why Kenyan businesses will be affected by Coronavirus

Mumbi Mutuko

09 March 2020 03:23 PM

Coronavirus to affect Kenyan businesses

A survey by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa) has detailed some of the businesses that will be affected the most by Covid-19.

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According to the survey, 57 per cent of manufacturers have been forced to outsource products from other countries due to the disruption supply from China.

Kepsa's data showed that 61 per cent of the businesses reported negative effects due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Notably, the survey indicated that the impact in Kenyan so far is very low to moderate for the majority of the businesses and the financial loss incurred so far averages below Ksh1 million.

Various sectors to be affected by coronavirus outbreak Pulse Live Kenya

Travel restrictions

Imports of crucial products have also reduced since China accounts for about 21 per cent of Kenya's imports.

The most affected businesses are in the horticultural, tea, coffee, mineral ores, and fruits sector.

Travel restrictions have also been predicted to deal a major blow to the sector since most since measures have been put in place to contain the spread of the virus.

undefined AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim

The global economy is also projected to suffer significantly in the short to medium term due to reduced trade volumes and production activities as businesses scale down operations.