FKE Chairman Erastus Mwongera says they also want to emphasise to politicians the need for peaceful campaigns to avoid chaos that may affect the business climate in the country.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 27- The Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) has said it plans to engage political aspirants to ensure that their political manifestos address the challenges facing investors in the country.
FKE says it also wants to emphasise to politicians the need for peaceful campaigns to avoid chaos that may affect the business climate in the country.
“The economy has suffered consequences of uncontrolled expenditures during campaigns. Elections have been characterised by high levels of inflation, industrial unrest and low level of investment resulting to volatile economic growth,“ said Erastrus Mwongera, FKE chairman.
The federation plans to commence the meetings with all political stakeholders from September in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Kisumu.
Mwongera was speaking during the launch of the federation’s manifesto which articulates the role of employers in the next General Election and their expectation of the government in creating an enabling business environment.
Chief Executive Officer Jacqueline Mugo said there is need to address the cost of doing business which she said remains high with the increase of regulations and bureaucracy in starting and sustaining any business in the country.
“Employers now have taken a stand on the leadership that this country needs. We are investors and therefore have a crucial role in the development of this economy. The government has even a greater role in facilitating the transformation of the country into a middle income country status, “said Mugo.
She added that so many reports and studies have been released on the issues affecting the business people, but less is being done by the government to address the challenges.
“The new government will need to hit the ground running with a clear plan to sustain the growth momentum, after the long campaign period. It will need focus on economic polices and structural reforms, aimed at removing hurdles to higher growth,” she added.
The employers also want the government through the necessary agencies to facilitate public private partnerships in various government projects adding that most of the projects have been awarded foreign investors.
“Among other things we would also want salary and wages be contained by central government and other public entities to free resources for development expenditure, “said Mugo.
