The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has decried high accumulated pending bills saying the prevailing situation is hurting businesses across the country and by extension the national economy.
Led by organization’s President, Dr. Erick Rutto, KNCCI officials and members of the business community called on the government to address the issue before many businesses are rendered insolvent.
Rutto who was speaking on Friday during KNCCI CEO’s Business Breakfast in Murang’a revealed that pending bills by both national and county governments have soared to over Sh700 billion.
He noted that the Chamber has been engaging in talks with the National Treasury to unlock part of these funds so as to support in revitalizing businesses especially those operating in counties.
“We are engaging the Treasury, and we were promised by the end of this month, Sh.150 billion will be released. This will go a long way in cushioning businesses that have been strained by delayed payments,” said Ruto.
Rutto reaffirmed KNCCI’s commitment to championing a more enabling business environment by putting in place measures to ease the cost of doing business.
He further called for the harmonization of county permits through a unified business license model, citing the example of a meat processing plant that currently requires 18 separate licenses from both national and county governments, a burden he termed unsustainable.
Additionally, Rutto outlined KNCCI’s efforts to enhance access to affordable credit through guarantee agreements that make financing more accessible to businesses, particularly SMEs.
He urged county governments to ensure transparency by awarding contracts to genuine business people only.
According to him, KNCCI is already issuing certificates to authenticate members and separate them from counterfeit operators.
Rutto also rallied local entrepreneurs who are not yet members of the Chamber to join, citing numerous benefits including representation, networking, and protection from exploitation.
On her part, Murang’a Chapter Chairperson, Dr. Naomi Kagone, emphasized the importance of business training, especially for individuals inheriting enterprises from family members.
She noted that skills and mentorship are crucial in ensuring sustainability and productivity of established enterprises.
“Business continuity requires proper training. Those who inherit family businesses must empower themselves with knowledge to grow and modernize these ventures,” Kagone said.
She further addressed the plight of traders who suffered heavy losses during the recent nationwide protests, acknowledging that they had not been fully compensated.
“We are in the process of addressing these losses. We urge all registered business people who incurred damages to walk into our offices with their claims so that we can push for their compensation,” she added.
Kagone also appealed to the government to craft favorable policies that would allow startups and existing businesses to thrive.
Nyeri KNCCI Chapter Chairman, Ibrahim Ndegwa, said the Chamber has a broader vision of enhancing business vibrancy in the region through research, information sharing, and collective advocacy.
“As chambers of commerce, we see greater opportunities in strengthening business by uniting traders, sharing outcomes of research, and fostering collaborations that uplift everyone,” Ndegwa stated.
On her part, Alice Karingu, Deputy Director of Education and Public Awareness at the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), underscored the devastating impact of counterfeit products on the market.
“When businesses counterfeit their own products or when fake goods infiltrate the market, the immediate effect is a shrinking market share for genuine traders. Customers opt for cheaper alternatives, brand trust declines, and eventually, the original businesses lose competitiveness,” she explained.
Karingu revealed that ACA has seized counterfeit goods from several companies and warned that businesses must remain accountable to protect both their brands and consumers.
“Counterfeiting not only denies genuine businesses revenue but also weakens innovation and creates unfair competition. Our role is to protect intellectual property, and we urge traders to partner with us in this fight,” she added.
The business breakfast, themed “Creating Business Legacy and Sustainability”, brought together stakeholders from across the country, with discussions centered on building resilience, improving the business climate, and safeguarding entrepreneurs from systemic challenges.
By Bernard Munyao
