Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang’ula, has called for closer cooperation between Parliament and the private sector, to ensure that national legislations align with Kenya’s economic realities and delivers tangible enhancements in citizens’ livelihoods.
Speaking during the 8th Annual Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) Speaker’s Roundtable with the National Assembly in Mombasa, Wetang’ula said this year’s theme, “From Policy to Practice: Delivering through Business and Government Partnership,” underscores the importance of joint action to stimulate growth through targeted reforms.
Wetang’ula reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to creating an enabling environment that supports enterprise, job creation, and innovation, noting that sustained dialogue with the private sector has been instrumental in shaping impactful policies and reforms.
KEPSA Chairperson, Dr. Jas Bedi, called for sector-specific reforms in energy, ICT, health, and finance, to spur growth and employment. He urged predictable energy regulations and incentives to lower production costs, investment in broadband infrastructure and digital skills, structured public–private partnerships in healthcare, and stronger access to credit for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
National Assembly Majority Leader, Kimani Ichung’wah, lauded KEPSA for consistent engagement with Parliament, saying the collaboration has yielded key reforms in energy, procurement, and taxation that improved Kenya’s business environment.
“This engagement has become a model of structured dialogue between Parliament and the Private sector. Our collaboration has produced laws that foster competitiveness, attract investment, and create jobs,” Ichung’wah said.
He urged KEPSA to strengthen evidence-based advocacy, supported by verifiable data and called for a predictable multi-year tax framework, to enhance investor confidence.
Ichung’wa emphasized that Kenya’s next phase of growth should be driven by local enterprises and county-based industries, pledging Parliament’s support in removing legal and regulatory barriers to innovation and credit access.
Ichung’wah further encouraged KEPSA to extend dialogue to county governments to promote private-sector-led development in line with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
On his part, Minority Leader, Junet Mohammed, echoed the call for practical outcomes, describing the Speaker’s Roundtable, as a crucial platform that links public policy with private-sector innovations.
He said the upcoming 2026/2027 Budget cycle, presents an opportunity for Parliament and the private sector, to deepen collaboration on pending Bills, regional tax harmonization, and digital economy legislation such as the Data Protection (Amendment) Bill 2025.
Junet also emphasized aligning higher education with industry demands through innovation hubs and apprenticeship programs, to equip youth with employable skills.
KEPSA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Caroline Kariuki, said the Annual Roundtable forum, established in 2009, reviews progress between Parliament and the private sector, on key legislative and economic priorities.
This year’s deliberations, she noted, focused on energy, trade, finance, ICT, and health, with a shared call for faster implementation of agreed policies.
Kariuki stressed the need to reduce regulatory bottlenecks, enhance infrastructure, and foster accountability, to ensure macroeconomic stability translates into inclusive growth and prosperity for all Kenyans.
by Sitati Reagan & Hassan Bahati
