Nairobi, Dec. 22 -- Kenya's economic debate is often framed around taxes, debt, and elections. Yet a quieter, more stubborn challenge is increasingly shaping corporate balance sheets and public finances alike: weak productivity growth.

While inflation and interest rates grab headlines, productivity determines whether firms can grow profits without passing costs to consumers, and whether the State can expand services without perpetually raising taxes.

At firm level, many Kenyan businesses are working harder but not necessarily smarter. Long hours, manual processes, and duplicated approvals remain common, even in sectors that should be digitally mature.

The result is rising operating costs, slow decision-making, and declining competitive...