Nairobi, Dec. 31 -- Chief executives of top Kenyan companies expect to hire more workers in 2026 after months of steadily improving business conditions, which followed one of the weakest periods for formal job creation since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The renewed optimism comes after Kenya's private sector expanded for a third consecutive month in November to a five-year high, marking a sharp turnaround from 2024 and early 2025 when hiring stalled.

Last year, the economy created the fewest jobs since Covid-19, with nearly nine in 10 new positions coming from the informal sector as companies froze pay and avoided permanent hires.

Kenya's private sector activity expanded for the majority of the months in 2025, boosted by better performance a...