- KNCCI said Kenya is a heavily-taxed nation in the world, which has also been a major issue affecting business.
- He said Kenya is the largest economy in East Africa and therefore her stability is critical for the region.
Image: LABAN WALLOGA
Business stakeholders at the Coast have appealed to the next government to create a good environment for businesses to thrive.
According to the Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the last three years have been a roller coaster for businesses.
KNCCI Mombasa chapter directors Geoffrey Samora, Hassan Meghji, and Wanjiku Wambugu said the Covid-19 pandemic and the uncertainties associated with the general election slowed down business.
“We expect the incoming government, whichever it will be, after the final rounds of disputes, to put up policies that will be able to open up an environment for good business to thrive,” Samora said.
He was speaking during a press conference at the KNCCI Mombasa office on Wednesday.
“There are a lot of factors in the past three years that were making the business environment very difficult,” he said.
“We honestly expect a government that will be sensitive to the plight of businesses and put in place policies and measures that will ensure we are able to do business, pay taxes and generally survive.”
According to the KNCCI director, they expect the next government to ensure that the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is completed on time.
Kenya Ports Authority has already signed a grant aid with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency for the development of the SEZ project.
The Mombasa Special Economic Zone Development project at Dongo Kundu is one of the Vision 2030 flagship projects.
The KPA technical committee and Nippon Koei Engineering Consultants have already completed the raft of documents specifying the look and feel of the multi-billion shillings SEZ.
The actual civil and building works for the port sub-project will take 38 months to be completed, according to the designs.
The works will entail the development of a port facility (multi-purpose berth) of 300 metres quay length, a trestle of 450m in length and a minus 15-metre draft.
It will also have a container and vehicle yard with a capacity of 1,830 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (containers) and 2,000 vehicular units.
President Uhuru Kenyatta was expected to commission the project before the end of his term, but he was not able to do so.
He said they also expect the next administration to ensure businesses that were hard hit by the negative impact of Covid-19 are restored.
“We expect a government that will be involving the business community in the decision-making of policies so that we are part and parcel of the journey,” Samora said.
KNCCI said Kenya is one of the heavily-taxed nations in the world, which has also been a major issue affecting business.
“We expect this next government to reward the people who voted for it by reducing the cost of living and implementing tax regimes that are affordable to businesses,” he said.
Meghji said businesses in the region are gradually opening up after the August 9 general election.
“There were fears that this election would spur conflict in areas like Likoni, Kisauni, and Mvita, so many businesses opted to remain closed," he said.
"We are happy to note that Mombasa county has remained peaceful and normalcy has resumed."
He said Kenya is the largest economy in East Africa and therefore her stability is critical for the region.
“We appeal to the business community to resume normal work following the conclusion of the general election. We are also inviting investors in because Kenya has a lot to offer,” he said.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)