SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. UHURU KENYATTA, C.G.H.

,
PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES OF
THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA DURING THE RE-LAUNCHING OF THE
NATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE CENTRE, NAIROBI ON 25TH JULY, 2014
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to join you today for the re-launch of the Kenya National Chamber
of Commerce and Industry. he Chamber, an autonomous non-pro!t
organi"ation, #as established to articulate and lobby for the interests of the
business community in e$ery sector of the economy. I am informed it has
branches throughout the country #ith o$er %&,&&& members.
'any of us are proud of the Chamber(s #or) since its inception in %*+,- I am
particularly proud of the Chamber(s role in the indigeni"ation of commerce
after independence. and its #arm relations #ith go$ernment, #hich ha$e found
the balance bet#een respect for the demands of the public interest, and robust
ad$ocacy of its members( interests.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an especial pleasure to join you today, for my Go$ernment is #holly
committed to maintaining Kenya(s #elcoming business en$ironment. /e face
a number of challenges 0 po$erty, youth unemployment, and ine1uality among
them. hese cannot be resol$ed #ithout the energy and enterprise of the
pri$ate sector. 2ll the more reason, then, to congratulate you on your ne#,
more e3ecti$e organisation, #hich #ill be an e$en more e3ecti$e partner in the
#or) of national de$elopment.
/e all )no# that in the recent past the Chamber has faced di4culties arising
from leadership and management that fell belo# the standard #e e5pect. I
note #ith gratitude that the challenges ha$e since been resol$ed, and that the
restructuring #e gather to celebrate today is a re6ection of that happy
outcome.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
hat restructuring comes at an e5cellent moment. he country needs $isionary
leadership to catalyse trade, in$estment and industriali"ation in the country
#hile at the same time promoting Kenya(s e5ternal trade. 7our reorganisation
puts the chamber in good position for this role.
Indeed, your recent #or) encourages the belief that you #ill sei"e the moment-
you ha$e done #ell in promoting and strengthening lin)ages bet#een the
micro, small and medium enterprises, and larger enterprises, the better to
promote inclusi$e gro#th and e5port e5pansion. 2nd I ha$e been pleased to
see the diligence #ith #hich the Chamber has participated in bilateral
agreements #ith ur)ey, China, 8nited 2rab 9mirates and Nigeria. countries
#hich I ha$e $isited in the recent past. It is time no# to build on these
successes.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I said earlier that I hoped you #ould become a strong partner for my
Go$ernment. Let me say a little about some of the #or) #e can do together.
7ou #ill )no# that my Go$ernment has implemented a4rmati$e action for
youth, #omen and people #ith disabilities in public procurement. hat is #hy
#e directed that :&; of all Go$ernment procurement be reser$ed for the target
groups.
It is my #ish that the pri$ate sector emulate us, as far as it can, in instituting
similar programs for these marginalised groups. It #ould also be gratifying if
the Chamber #or)ed #ith us to ensure the success of the ne# public
procurement policy.
It remains the case that the pri$ate sector creates a $ery substantial number of
jobs. 'y Go$ernment, therefore, #ill do all it can to ease the rigours of doing
business in Kenya 0 it is the least #e can do if the pri$ate sector is to gro# as
rapidly as #e )no# it can.
In turn, I, and other Kenyans, can e5pect that the pri$ate sector #ill do all it can
to help our young people !nd digni!ed #or).
/ith those remar)s, it is no# my pleasure to declare the Kenya National
Chamber of Commerce and Industry o4cially re-launched, and to loo) for#ard,
#ith you, to a fruitful partnership.
han) you.