Kenya imports drop 14pc on weak shilling, dull purchasing power

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Containers at the port of Mombasa, Kenya. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NMG

Kenyan imports dropped by nearly 14 percent in the first eight months of the year, highlighting the impact of the weakening shilling on the purchasing power of the local currency.

The shilling had weakened against the dollar by 17 percent, making imports more expensive because these are mainly funded using greenbacks purchased in the local market. This has also partly contributed to the high inflation experienced this year.