On 4^th October 2022, the KEPSA leadership team led by the CEO Ms. Carole Kariuki and the Chair Ms. Flora Mutahi held the inaugural meeting with the new Nairobi City County Governor, H.E Hon. Johnson Sakaja in his city hall offices. The meeting was a follow-up to an earlier engagement with the Governor during the campaign period, when KEPSA met the Nairobi Gubernatorial candidates for the August 9th elections.  

In today’s meeting, KEPSA presented the Private Sector Economic Manifesto for the County of Nairobi, which encapsulates KEPSA’s priorities and vision for the city. The purpose of the inaugural meeting, which was attended by KEPSA board members and a few leaders of sectors that are key for Nairobi, was to agree on a working mechanism for the Nairobi Governor Roundtable that was decided to be held quarterly.

In her opening remarks, the KEPSA Chair started by congratulating the Governor on being elected as the new Nairobi County boss and assured him of the full backing, commitment, and collaboration of the business community to make Nairobi the best African city to live, work, and invest.

“Making Nairobi a Livable City requires an integrated planning approach to the provision of public goods such as infrastructure and services based on economic competitiveness, environmentally sustainable growth, social and financial inclusion, resilience, and safety. We also believe that enhancing Nairobi's business climate and lowering transaction costs will dramatically increase corporate competitiveness nationwide and maybe cut costs substantially.” Said Ms. Mutahi.

While presenting the Private Sector Economic Manifesto, the KEPSA CEO noted the importance of Nairobi County to the economy of the Country, mentioning that the city is not only the Capital City of this country but also the location where close to 30% of our national GDP has been generated consistently over the last 8 years. Further, Ms. Kariuki gave a highlight of the various intervention KEPSA has done to support SMEs and the creation of decent Jobs.

“Among them is the drafting and sponsoring of the Micro & Small Enterprise Bill, which sought to regulate the sector and bring SMEs under a legal framework that would enable them to access credit and also pay taxes, protecting the SMEs from unfair competition through development policies like the competition Act, Anti-Counterfeit Act; and SME development and Capacity Building program.” She said.

Ms. Kariuki highlighted the eight (8) intervention areas, which if implemented will contribute to making Nairobi a Livable City, anchored on Order, Dignity, Hope, and immense Opportunities.

The eight thematic areas include:

1. Efficient Mobility and Transport;
2. Integrated Urban and Land-Use Planning;
3. Affordable Healthcare;
4. Safety, Security and Disaster Risk Management;
5. e-Government, Compliance and Enforcement;
6. Water, Waste Water and Solid Waste Management;
7. Competitiveness and Jobs; and,
8. Social Cohesion and Cultural Belonging;

Specifically, Ms. Kariuki pointed out the need for a Single Business Permit for businesses operating in Nairobi County, which will enhance compliance and increase revenues. She also called for the improvement of the healthcare system in Nairobi County, the development of efficient, affordable, and reliable transport mobility which reduces congestion in the City and the set-up of an efficient e-Permitting system for building permits approval and planning approvals.

Further, the KEPSA CEO highlighted the need to increase access to clean and sufficient water for the city residents as well as efficient waste management.

On his part, H.E Hon Johnson Sakaja appreciated KEPSA's willingness to engage with his office and partner with the city-county to make Nairobi Work. While assuring the leaders of his commitment, the Governor indicated that if many of the issues raised would be solved in his first term.

“We only have this window to make things work in Nairobi, If we don’t solve them in the next five years, it may not be possible to ever solve them. This is a critical opportunity we have.” He said.

The meeting agreed to the following outcomes:

1. KEPSA will hold bimonthly meetings with different Nairobi County Departments once the CECs have been appointed. This will be followed by quarterly Nairobi County Governor’s Roundtable to receive progress reports from the sector committees.
2. The Nairobi County Government has already started to work on Single Business Permit. KEPSA shall have a representative in the committee working on this initiative. The County Government will work with National Government to harmonize business licensing to include the national-level statutory licenses. This will put all business licensing is a one-stop shop procedure for both the Nairobi County and National Governments.
3. KEPSA through the Ajira Digital project will support in the digitization of Nairobi County Government Services to ensure efficiency.
4. The Nairobi County Government will make planning and zoning the Centre of every development approval.
5. The Nairobi County Government will make Physical and Land Use Planning and Integrated Plans the Centre of every development approval.
6. The Nairobi County Government will include a KEPSA representative in the Nairobi County Government’s committee in charge of streamlining the building permit applications and planning approval system.
7. The Nairobi County Government will ensure gender mainstreaming in the construction sector, especially in the National Building Code.
8. The Nairobi County Government will decentralize services, especially the development and planning approvals.
9. The Nairobi County Government will to partner with KEPSA in tree planting around the city.
10. The Nairobi County Government will float an Infrastructure bond to support the different Nairobi County infrastructure needs. 
11. The private sector will be included in the planning committee of the Nairobi festival week which is aimed at showing the Nairobi culture.
12. The Nairobi County Government Establish an SME fund for Nairobi County SMEs.
13. The Nairobi County Government will form the Nairobi foundation which will consolidate different support programs.
14. The Nairobi County Government will establish the Nairobi Business Council for Nairobi County where KEPSA will be well represented.

Also present in the meeting were KEPSA Directors Eng. James Mwangi, Mike Macharia, Nick Nesbitt and Eva Muraya. Others were Wambui Mbarire – Chair, Devolution, and Planning Sector Board, Mary Ngechu – Chair, SME Sector Board, Mercy Ireri – CEO, Kenya Transporters Association, Gikonyo Gitonga – Chair - Lands and Physical Planning, Newton Wang'oo – Chairman, Kenya Transporters Association and Victor Ogalo – DCEO KEPSA Business.

The Governor was accompanied by Jairus Msumba – County Secretary, Peter Mutua - Director, Service Delivery, Mr. Kerich - County Executive Member, and Elizabeth Njau - Director of Tourism among others.