The Dark Side Of Doing Business In Kenya

Vipi Meshers 👋
Tuseme ukweli leo. Hustling in Kenya iko na side ya kuinspire, but pia iko na upande mweusi wenye wengi hawasemi loud.

1. “System” vs Small Biz
Watu wengi wanasema sio market inawamaliza, ni system.

• Kanjo raids bila notice, licences hazieleweki, rules zinabadilishwa ghafla.
• Bribes “za kuchapisha” ukitaka tu kuendelea bila kusumbuliwa.
• Policies za juu hazifikiri ground, lakini mzigo wa tax na compliance unaangukia small biz.

2. Cartels, connections na unfair play
Kuna stories za

• Suppliers wakipendelea wale wako na “mtu wao”
• Tenders na deals za government zikienda kwa network fulani tu
• Big players wakishusha bei kwa hasara kwa muda ili kuwatoa wasee wadogo kwa game.

3. Credit trap na pesa za uwongo
Digital loans na shylocks zimeharibu biashara za wengi.

• Loans easy kuingia, but interest iko juu
• Wengine wanaendesha biz huku faida yote ikienda kulipa madeni, mpaka hawajui kama hustle inawalipa au la.

4. Safety, theft na trust

• Watu kuporwa stock, kuibiwa na staff, ama customers kulipa na fake notes
• Landlords kubadilisha masharti ghafla, rent kupandishwa bila plan, au kufungiwa shop kwa notice kidogo.

Lakini pia kuna upande mwingine: despite all this, kuna Meshers bado wana survive na hata wanagrow.

Ningependa kuskia kutoka kwa nyinyi sasa:
👉 Kwa experience yako, “dark side” gani ya doing biz Kenya imekuuma zaidi?
👉 Na umeipiga vipi changa la macho, ama bado unatafuta solution?