More than half of businesses in Kenya see rise in costs on high taxes, inflation

Over half of the businesses in the country expect their primary operational costs to rise this year, largely pushed by high taxes, unfavourable government policies and inflation, a new private sector survey indicates.

The 2025 Business Barometer survey done by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) reveals that 55 percent of firms now expect their costs to rise, up from 54 percent in November last year, highlighting a growing pessimism about the improvement of the business environment.