This afternoon, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) hosted Mr. Jaoko Oburu Odinga, Special Advisor for Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Livelihood at the Office of the President, during a courtesy call focused on enhancing collaboration between government and the private sector.

In the meeting, KNCCI President Dr. Erick Rutto reaffirmed the Chamber’s mission to promote and protect the commercial and industrial interests of Kenyan businesses. He emphasized that the government remains a natural and strategic partner in achieving this mission, especially in advancing inclusive economic growth and enterprise development.

“Any partnership with government is a shared opportunity to unlock value and deliver on our mandates,” said Dr. Rutto. He further called for urgent attention to pressing issues facing the business community, notably high and multiple taxes, mounting pending bills, and persistent youth unemployment.

On his part, Mr. Jaoko outlined a series of ongoing policy reforms and development programmes spearheaded by the Office of the President to foster a more inclusive and competitive business environment. He reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly those owned by youth, women, persons with disabilities, and those in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs).

Mr. Jaoko noted that KNCCI’s national reach through its 47 county chapters positions it as an ideal partner for grassroots-level implementation, advisory, and education related to these programmes. He underscored the importance of pro-investment policies in uplifting the informal and formal sectors alike and welcomed KNCCI’s engagement in co-creating solutions that benefit the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Both parties agreed to formalize the partnership and pledged to maintain continuous collaboration. This engagement builds on the recent commitment made by the President of the Republic of Kenya during a State House meeting in April 2025, where it was announced that quarterly roundtable meetings would be held with KNCCI to ensure consistent dialogue and policy alignment.

As Kenya charts a course toward economic inclusivity and empowerment, this partnership signals a renewed commitment to harnessing public-private collaboration as a catalyst for national development.