By Our Reporter
The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Upper Eastern regional leaders have endorsed presidential candidate Dr Eric Rutto, who pledged to strengthen county chapters.
KNCCI is set to hold its presidential elections on June 8 with Dr Rutto, who is the current vice president, facing off with the president Richard Ngatia.
Dr Rutto has picked Mombasa’s Mustafa Mohamed as his running mate while Mr Ngatia has Mombasa based businessman Abdulwalli Ahmed.
Regional leaders from Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Isiolo and Marsabit endorsed Dr Rutto in a meeting in Meru town saying he was better placed to transform the chamber.
KNCCI Meru branch chairman Joshua Mungania said they were particularly interested in his plan to strengthen regional branches.
“As Upper Eastern region leaders, we have resolved to support Dr Rutto as the KNCCI president for the next three years,” Mr Mungania said.
Dr Rutto pledged to enhance KNCCI’s working relationship with the governments in efforts to place it at the policy making table.
He said that in line with his ‘Chamber Mashinani’ rallying call, the regions would be receiving their funding on time while resources would be devolved to fund niche businesses.
“I pledge to ensure each branch receives its allocation by 5th of every month. We will also revive all the pending MOUs within seven days and present them to the regions to execute. KNCCI will work with regional leaders to address their unique challenges by having county business development plans partnering with counties,” Dr Rutto said.
Mr Mohammed noted that the county chapters can borrow from Mombasa KNCCI branch which has managed to create a database of more than 31,000 businesses operating in the coastal city.
“Through this data, we can determine where interventions are needed. In Mombasa, we have negotiated with the county to allow small businesses to pay their revenue in instalments,” he said.
Dr Rutto said his rival Richard Ngatia had failed in running KNCCI hence should not be given a second term.
