In a candid social media post that has resonated deeply with countless Kenyan entrepreneurs, political commentator and businessman Morara Kebaso painted a stark picture of the current business environment in Kenya.

His assessment is blunt and troubling: "Doing business in this country is now similar to gambling and betting," he declared, capturing the widespread frustration of many who are trying to build sustainable enterprises in an increasingly unpredictable economic landscape.

Kebaso’s observation strikes at the heart of what many business owners across Kenya are experiencing. The traditional pillars of business planning—predictable revenue streams, accurate forecasting, and reliable long-term strategic planning—have become nearly impossible to rely upon.

"You cannot predict your revenue or profits," he noted, highlighting how fundamental business metrics have become unreliable indicators of future performance.

This unpredictability has forced a dramatic shift in how businesses operate. Where once entrepreneurs could confidently draft five-year strategic plans and secure financing based on projected growth, Kebaso argues that such forward-thinking has become "useless."

The business environment has deteriorated to the point where companies are forced to operate in constant survival mode, planning only from month to month rather than building sustainable, scalable operations.

First-hand Experience and "Morally Decayed Society"

The furniture business owner speaks from direct, extensive experience. His company, Morara Home Furniture, operates across multiple regions, with branches in Nairobi's Utawala and Kangundo Road, Eldoret Annex, and Bamburi in Mombasa.

When someone operating at this scale describes the environment as gambling, it signals serious, deep-seated structural problems in the economy.

This expansive presence gives him firsthand insight into the diverse challenges facing businesses across different parts of Kenya.

Perhaps most concerning is Kebaso's assessment of the workforce challenges businesses face. He attributes much of the unpredictability to what he calls "a morally decayed society making them unreliable and untrustworthy."

This suggests that beyond purely economic factors such as fluctuating exchange rates, high interest rates, and reduced consumer purchasing power (as highlighted in recent economic reports), there's a breakdown in the social fabric that businesses depend on—reliable employees, trustworthy suppliers, and ethical business practices that form the foundational bedrock of a healthy commercial ecosystem.

Recent reports from the World Bank and other economic analyses confirm a challenging, albeit complex, economic outlook for Kenya in 2025.

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While some macroeconomic indicators like inflation have improved, structural challenges persist, including revenue shortfalls, high public debt, and subdued business sentiment following recurrent protests and policy uncertainty.

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has also warned of significant daily losses to businesses due to political unrest, further compounding the unpredictability Kebaso describes.