KNCCI Calls for Structural Reforms to Boost Business Competitiveness at CBEA Gala in Kitale

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has intensified its call for urgent policy and structural reforms to enhance the ease of doing business, following deliberations at the Celebrating Business Excellence Awards (CBEA) dinner held in Kitale under the Trans Nzoia County Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Speaking during the event, KNCCI President Dr Erick Ruto lauded the strong turnout of key stakeholders, sponsors, private sector players, county leadership, regional directors, and KNCCI officials, noting that the forum provided a critical platform for engagement, networking, and collaboration.

“The CBEA dinner is more than a celebration of enterprise; it is a strategic engagement space where we confront the real challenges affecting our business community and collectively explore practical solutions,” said Dr Ruto.

Addressing Multiple Taxation and High Energy Costs

Deliberations at the forum centered on pressing challenges facing businesses, particularly excessive taxation arising from multiple licensing requirements, high electricity costs, and delays in the settlement of pending government bills.

Participants expressed concern that overlapping national and county levies continue to burden enterprises, especially micro, small, and medium-sized businesses. The Chamber emphasized the need for harmonization of licensing frameworks to eliminate duplication and reduce operational strain on entrepreneurs.

Dr Ruto reiterated KNCCI’s advocacy for a five-year tax holiday for start-ups to nurture emerging enterprises during their formative years. “Supporting start-ups through tax incentives will spur innovation, promote formalization, and enhance survival rates of new businesses,” he stated.

Push for Reduced County Levies and Devolution Scorecard

The Chamber is also championing reduced county levies and the introduction of a devolution scorecard to track and evaluate county performance in creating business-friendly environments.

According to KNCCI, a transparent scorecard system would promote accountability, healthy competition among counties, and data-driven policy adjustments aimed at strengthening local economies.

“We must ensure that devolution works for businesses. Counties should be engines of growth, not barriers to enterprise,” Dr Ruto emphasized.

Call for Structural Solutions and Value Addition

Feedback from stakeholders underscored the urgent need for structural solutions to persistent licensing disputes and bottlenecks within regulatory systems. Businesses further called for deliberate investment in value addition across local value chains to enhance competitiveness, create jobs, and expand market access.

Dr Ruto affirmed the Chamber’s commitment to engaging relevant government entities in structured dialogue to resolve regulatory inconsistencies and promote policies that support industrial growth.

“Our intention is not confrontation but partnership. We are ready to work with both national and county governments to build a conducive and fair business environment that empowers enterprises to thrive,” he said.

The CBEA dinner concluded with a renewed commitment from the private sector to strengthen collaboration, advocate progressive reforms, and champion sustainable economic growth in Trans Nzoia County and across the country.