Businesses lobby politicians to maintain safe environment ahead of Kenya’s General Election

Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro (right) with Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) Chairman Amb. Dennis Awori (centre) and KEPSA's CEO Carole Kariuki during the first day of the Speaker's Roundtable between the Senate and KEPSA at Pride Inn Shanzu in Mombasa County on Friday 29th July 2016. PHOTO: KELVIN KARANI/STANDARD

MOMBASA: Private sector players are lobbying politicians to maintain a safe business environment even as they position themselves for next year’s General Election.

At a conference bringing together members of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance and senators, members of the business community protested the polarization of the country at every election cycle, a move that pollutes the business environment lowering economic growth.

KEPSA said it was already getting concerned at the heightening political tension in the country and how it was already affecting economic growth, urging Senators to help tame the situation.

“The 10 percent growth that we are aspiring will always remain elusive unless we ensure that our politics does not balkanize the business environment. We need to find a way of ensuring that peace and stability are maintained, even as we play our politics,” said KEPSA Chairman Dennis Awori.

The concerns were raised even as Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro challenged the business community to capitalize on the huge financial boost that the country’s economy enjoys during campaign period with billions pumped into the market by politicians in campaign funds to improve investment.

He said that there was much money in circulation during the pre-election period, saying the private sector players must look for ways of harnessing the finances to boost the economy and spur growth.

“There is always so much money in circulation during the campaign period, politicians have since ditched the 4 by 4 machines and are instead now hiring choppers, generally pumping so much money in the economy. It is an irony that it is during such period that business appears to suffer most,” said Ethuro.

However, Ethuro noted that the country was slowly sliding into a dangerous path, as has been witnessed in every electioneering year, sending worrying signals even to foreign investors who are opting to wait the outcome of next year’s elections before committing themselves.

He said political players must ensure that the temperature does not affect the projected growth.

“We are gradually getting mired in the murky swamp of hate speech, bickering, violent street demonstrations, ethnic incitement and profiling. We must look for ways of containing the situation to ensure we do not polarize the country further and hurt our economy,” said the Speaker.

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar challenged the business community to be active players in politics, saying their decision to be passive was also contributing to the beating that the economy suffers.

Deputy Speaker Kembi Gitura recounted how during his tenure as an ambassador in Brussles, Belgium, the European country went for 13 months without a government after an election, yet the country’s growth continued to take a positive trajectory, saying Kenyans must move to delink political competition with economic growth.

“For the 13 months, residents of Belgium started even questioning whether it was necessary to hold elections and form a government in the country. This is largely because the institutions there are strong and get things moving. We need to move in that direction,” said Kembi.