Nairobi, March 5 -- Kenya's private sector activity rebounded to the first growth in seven months on rising orders largely because of softening growth in inflation, prompting companies to raise the output of goods and services.

The Stanbic Kenya Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for February rose to 51.3 from 49.8 in January, signalling growth in business activity.

This marked the first expansion since last August. It is also the fastest growth in month-on-month private sector activity since January 2013 (52.0).

The report shows that February was only the third time in 13 months that the private sector has posted expansion in business deals, pointing to a tough operating environment due to elevated price pressures, weakening shilling, hi...