Stakeholders in Uasin Gishu County have been enlightened on the Draft Public-Private Sector Engagement (PPE) Policy and the Draft Public-Private Engagement (PPE) Bill, 2025.
The forum, held at the University of Eldoret in Moiben Sub-County, brought together representatives from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Contracting Authorities (CAs), regulators, county governments and corporations, as well as members of Parliament and county assemblies. Private sector representatives, companies, institutional investors, civil society organizations, and members of the general public were also involved.
In a press release, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Investment Promotion, Abubakar Hassan Abubakar, stated that the Policy seeks to strengthen coordination, improve coherence, and create a clear institutional anchor for structured dialogue between the public and private sectors. Its goal is to foster a transparent and inclusive environment where private sector concerns are consolidated, prioritized, and addressed through evidence-based engagement.
Recognizing the private sector as a central pillar of Kenya’s economic growth, competitiveness, and investment attractiveness, the PS emphasized that the Policy and Bill have been developed to strengthen, not diminish, the role of private sector actors in national development.
The Policy supports the growth and empowerment of Business Membership Organizations (BMOs) by enhancing their capacity to participate effectively in national policy formulation processes. The Bill operationalizes this Policy by establishing a coordinated mechanism for engagement. It defines structures that safeguard the independence of BMOs and affirms their continued role as the primary voice of the private sector.
The Bill establishes a national framework for engagement, guides the conduct of these engagements, and creates the Business Council of Kenya (BCK) to facilitate coordination. The BCK will not replace or absorb BMOs; instead, it will serve as a platform for BMOs to collectively articulate priority issues requiring government attention.
The Act applies to both public and private sectors, ensuring mutual accountability and consistency. Under the Bill, BMOs retain their autonomy, membership structures, leadership, and advocacy mandates. The government does not acquire powers to register, regulate, dissolve, or interfere with any private sector organization. Instead, BMOs gain a formal channel through which their issues are consolidated, elevated, and addressed within a time-bound process.
“To ensure seamless dialogue, the Bill establishes mechanisms that guarantee continuous, structured, and inclusive engagement. These include regular calls for submissions of private sector issues, technical reviews, sector-based consultations, joint meetings between government entities and BMOs, escalation pathways for unresolved matters, and a formal feedback system,” the PS noted.
These mechanisms enhance responsiveness, reduce duplication, and ensure private sector concerns are addressed comprehensively and transparently.
The State Department emphasizes that the framework enhances, not restricts, participation. By strengthening coordination and ensuring that every BMO has a recognized engagement channel, the Policy and Bill promote fairness, inclusivity, and efficiency. They are designed to reinforce Kenya’s competitiveness and create a conducive environment for investment, entrepreneurship, job creation, and sustainable economic development.
PS Abubakar highlighted that the Bill and Policy provide a structured, predictable, and transparent framework for collaboration between the government and private sector organizations across all economic sectors. Stakeholders are encouraged to participate actively in ongoing public consultations to enrich the final framework and ensure it reflects the collective aspirations of the Kenyan business community.
by Ekuwam Sylvester
