Nairobi, Feb. 14 -- Kenya's imports of machinery, fuel, and raw materials dropped by double-digit rates last year for the first time since the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic-linked shutdowns three years ago, signalling a slowdown in production activities in key sectors such as manufacturing and construction.

The value of goods ordered from abroad dropped 10.61 percent to nearly $17.12 billion (Sh2.74 trillion under prevailing dollar conversion rates) compared with the year before, according to the provisional data from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

Reduced imports amid a surprise decline in earnings from exports cut the gap between exports and imports by 15.94 percent, or nearly $1.87 billion (Sh2...