This archive report was first published on 4 September 2019.
On September 4, 2019, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) signed a significant advisory agreement with the World Bank Group's Kenya Competitiveness Enhancement Program (KCEP) to boost Kenya's competitiveness.
The agreement aims to strengthen public-private dialogue frameworks at the county level, paving the way for business-friendly reforms and unlocking additional investment for Kenya's private sector.
As part of the agreement, KCEP will support KNCCI in reviewing and enhancing the institutional and advocacy framework required to facilitate public-private dialogue in nine counties: Kajiado, Kilifi, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nairobi, Narok, Nakuru, Turkana, and Uasin Gishu.
Additionally, the agreement includes support for the development of a database to track and analyze the business environment, including new laws, regulations, licenses, taxes, and fees that impact county business environments.
According to Richard Ngatia, President of KNCCI, the project will promote better diagnosis of investment climate problems, design policy reforms, build mutual trust between the public and private sectors, and improve social cohesion.
Program Manager Sarah Ochieng from the World Bank Group's KCEP emphasized the importance of cascading learnings from the national level to the county level, where Kenya has received regional recognition for its public-private dialogue efforts.
The KCEP is a four-year program financed by UK Aid, aiming to strengthen Kenya's business environment, enhance efficiency, and transparency. It also supports the development of markets in key sectors, leading to increased private investment through targeted legal and regulatory improvements at national and sub-national levels.
