Naivasha, Kenya – October 29, 2024—The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) joined the National Assembly at their retreat in Naivasha, Nakuru County, to co-host the annual Speaker’s Roundtable (SPRT). The event brought together the (Rt) Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, Leadership of the House and Chairs of the Committees of the National Assembly, and private sector representatives to create actionable strategies for Kenya’s economic growth and sustainable development by uniting policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders.

In a unique collaboration, the roundtable started with a one-on-one session among the National Assembly leadership and businesses in their respective sectors, which included Trade and Industry, Energy, Finance and National Planning, Agriculture and Livestock, Education, Health, and ICT. By facilitating this engagement, the roundtable provided a unique opportunity for the private sector to influence legislative frameworks directly, ensuring policies align with industry needs for sustainable growth. Collaborating in these sessions was also aimed at driving sector-specific reforms, fostering innovation, and creating a business environment that thrives on clear, forward-looking regulation.

“I commend KEPSA for the unwavering commitment to facilitating engagements with the different arms of the government. The engagements play a critical role in spurring and driving our country's economic growth, creating sustainable jobs, innovating, and improving the well-being of our people in a rapidly changing and competitive world. Furthermore, good governance and collaborative efforts between the private sector and the government to combat corruption will make Kenya a more attractive investment destination, enabling a good business environment.” Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang'ula, EGH, MP - Speaker of the National Assembly.

Over the years, the collaborative efforts between KEPSA and the various Committees of the National Assembly have driven impactful legislative reforms, improved the business environment, and catalyzed national growth.

“I would like to underscore a milestone achieved due to progressive legislation from this House: by 2019, Kenya had leaped from 132nd to 56th in the World Bank's Doing Business rankings. This significant improvement illustrates the transformative power of targeted legislation in enhancing our competitiveness,” said KEPSA Chairperson Dr. Jas Bedi.

However, despite easing business constraints, high operational and compliance costs hinder Kenya's global competitiveness. The roundtable emphasized the shared priority between the private sector and the National Assembly to tackle core factors limiting the country’s economic potential. “To position Kenya as a true economic leader in the region, we must focus on making business operations smoother, more inclusive, and more efficient. This means prioritizing digital solutions in public services to cut business costs, ensuring reliable access to essentials like electricity, and addressing trade logistics that keep Kenyan products competitive,” added Dr. Bedi.

He also identified other areas for improvement, such as simplifying business entry and regulatory processes to boost Kenya’s SMEs and increase investment. At the same time, focusing on flexible labor markets and policies that empower women entrepreneurs will help unlock the workforce potential. Embracing transparency and sustainability will also make Kenya a destination for responsible investment, fueling growth that benefits all Kenyans.

Furthermore, KEPSA CEO Ms. Carole Kariuki highlighted KEPSA's National Business Agenda, which focuses on five essential competitiveness drivers: cost-effective utilities, affordable financing, skilled labor productivity, lower logistics costs, and streamlined trade policies. She also shared the key strategic and legislative priorities for the private sector and the National Assembly, including spurring jobs and inclusive wealth creation, social transformation for bridging inequalities, enhanced governance and economic stability, cutting-edge innovation and investment in competitive human capital, and creating a globally competitive business environment.

The Leader of the Majority Party, Hon. Kimani Ichungw'ah, EGH, MP, acknowledged that “This roundtable comes at a crucial moment as Kenya navigates global economic challenges, technological transformations, and evolving labour demands. In recognizing these changes, we must continue to adapt and innovate—aligning our legislation with the needs of a dynamic, inclusive economy and ensuring that all legislative proposals are anchored on sound economic policies. We have the shared responsibility of fostering a landscape where businesses can thrive, investments are protected, and Kenyans can enjoy the fruits of our growing economy.”

The roundtable also included a panel discussion on key competitive drivers, focusing on logistics and infrastructure, the cost and availability of utilities, and labor productivity. The discussants sought to reform Kenya’s business environment by addressing these drivers to foster sustainable economic growth and position Kenya as a globally competitive economy.

A joint communique from the roundtable reaffirmed the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Kenya’s economic strategy. KEPSA is committed to being more proactive and playing a more visible role in public participation in legislation relating to the private sector, including publicizing the positive aspects of the proposed legislation. It is further committed to working hand in hand with the National Assembly to continuously enhance Kenya’s competitiveness by informing key stakeholders about strategic legislation for a conducive business environment.

The National Assembly committed to formulating and strengthening laws that foster investment through sustainable tax incentives and taking the necessary measures to address the following barriers to competitiveness (cost of doing business): the cost of utilities, raw materials, logistics, illicit trade, workforce productivity, and the cost and tenure of financing.

For Media Inquiries:

For more information on the Speaker’s Roundtable, please contact: Josephine Wawira, KEPSA Corporate Communications Manager - jwawira@kepsa.or.ke