08/05/2026
One of the biggest — yet rarely discussed — contributors to unemployment in Kenya is internal theft by employees.
Many businesses don’t fail because the market is too small; they fail because continuous losses make it impossible to meet financial obligations like loan repayments, salaries, taxes, rent, and reinvestment for growth. When businesses collapse or stop expanding, job opportunities shrink.
This problem shows up across many industries — especially restaurants, clothing shops, event companies, and pubs.
Event companies: Décor items and equipment disappear, and gear leaves the warehouse without proper payments or documentation. Those losses pile up fast and cripple operations.
Restaurants and pubs: Stock doesn’t move as expected because some staff sell their own products on the side, or undercut the business, while you still pay salaries at month-end.
Clothing shops: Once employees build relationships with your customers, some start selling “on the side” at a cheaper rate. Sales drop, yet overheads — rent, salaries, utilities, taxes — remain the same.
If we collectively took a firm stand against theft, more entrepreneurs would have the confidence to keep investing, expand existing businesses, start new ones, and employ more people.
Employees, too, would benefit through career growth, better stability, and the opportunity to eventually build legitimate businesses of their own.
What has been your experience as an entrepreneur? Let’s talk.
