It’s a three-horse race for trade chamber top seat as polls near

Flamboyant city businessman Gor Semelang’o has made a surprise last-minute entry in the race to succeed Kiprono Kittony as the President of the giant Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI).

He announced his candidature this week at a time when nationwide lobbying was already in high gear, with front-runners for the various positions in the two-tier elections already emerging.

Mr Kittony told Saturday Standard that he was hopeful his successor would complete his vision of lifting KNCCI to be the single lobby that champions the interests of all businesses, irrespective of size.

It will be interesting to see whether Mr Semelang’o’s entry will tilt the scales, especially being an outsider in a contest that had shaped up as a two-horse race after Richard Ngatia received twin backings from contenders who dropped off.

Stephen Mbugua and Laban Onditi, both senior outgoing officials of KNCCI, announced their decisions this week to bow out of the race, throwing their weight behind Mr Ngatia, currently the chairman of the Nairobi Chapter.

Ngatia and Semelang’o will be facing off with national Vice-Chairman James Mureu.

Kittony’s term at the helm of the chamber, that represents the interests of over 310,000 businesses and with a representation of over 16,000 members at national and county level, comes to an end ahead of the polls slated for May. 

While endorsing Ngatia, Mr Onditi said KNCCI required a visionary leadership, and the Nairobi chapter chair had contributed to the growth of the chamber.

“I endorse him, I support him,” he said.

Also backing Ngatia, Mr Mbugua said the Nairobi chairman was best placed to steer the chamber to greater heights as he had done with the City branch.

“He has a good track record at the City branch, which I hope he will translate to the growth nationally,” he said.

It remains to be seen what Semelang’o's entry into the race portends, with some saying he is likely to ruffle feathers owing to his national profile.

The former Youth Enterprise Development Fund chairman told Saturday Standard that he hoped his performance at the helm of the fund will catapult him to the seat.

‘‘It is true that a number of delegates have requested that I throw my hat in the ring. It is also true that I have been active in the chamber’s business for a while. I have consulted key stakeholders and they have given me the go-ahead,’’ said Semelang’o.

“There is a lot that Kittony achieved being an outsider when he joined the leadership of the KNCCI, which I can take forward. I am firmly in,” he said.

Ngatia, who did a circuit of North Rift, Nyanza and Western county chambers yesterday, said he had received endorsement from several chapters and he was confident that he would win the president seat.

Among the highlights of the day was a Toyota-KNCCI sponsorship event for the promotion of Hino brand hosted by Eldoret.

“Nairobi Chapter, which I am chairing, has been a success. I would like to replicate the gains across the country... We shall continue to visit all regions to get feedback on the chamber we want.”

Ngatia lauded Kittony for his efforts that had improved KNCCI and said he would push for a stronger chamber that would be responsive to its members.

His strategy, he told the business lobby’s annual general meeting on February 8, would be to increase efficiency of the markets as well as develop and implement a revamped trade and markets policy to complement national policies.

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