The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) yesterday convened its National Governing Council (NGC) meeting in Nairobi, graced by the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, the Indonesian Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Witjaksono Adji and representatives from the International Labor Organization, Kingdom Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank and the Africa Gurantee Fund.

In his address, KNCCI President Dr. Erick Rutto called on the government to fulfill key commitments made earlier this year during the Chamber’s engagement with national leadership at State House. He urged action on critical issues such as clearing pending bills, granting SMEs better access to government tenders, improving access to affordable finance, lowering interest rates, and creating a conducive tax environment to drive enterprise growth.

Dr. Rutto further encouraged county chapters to play a stronger role in advocating for SME needs at the county level and to collaborate closely with the headquarters on national policy matters. He highlighted several initiatives championed by the Chamber to address business challenges, including:

  • Partnerships with financial institutions to improve access to credit.

  • Collaboration with the Africa Guarantee Fund to enable SMEs secure financing without collateral.

  • Joint programs with the International Labour Organization to combat unemployment through skills development.

  • Launch of the Chamber Business Academy to build members’ capacity through continuous training.

  • Establishment of the National Chamber of Commerce Sacco to expand financing opportunities for members.

Responding to the Chamber’s concerns, CS Lee Kinyanjui reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting businesses. He noted that the Central Bank of Kenya has already engaged financial institutions to lower lending rates, leading to increased uptake of credit. He also announced the removal of taxes on various packaging materials to boost value addition and enhance competitiveness of key exports such as tea and coffee.

The CS underscored manufacturing as a priority growth driver for Kenya’s economy, calling on the private sector to capitalize on opportunities within export processing zones and county aggregation centers, which he observed have been underutilized by local investors. On innovation, he encouraged businesses to position themselves in emerging industries such as electric mobility to gain early advantage in new markets.

Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Adji highlighted the strong potential for economic cooperation between Kenya and Indonesia, citing shared characteristics such as youthful populations and strategic positioning along the Indian Ocean. He noted that Indonesia brings a robust industrial base while Kenya contributes dynamism and innovation. The Ambassador identified skills exchange as an immediate area of collaboration, offering opportunities for Kenyan students in Indonesian institutions. He further emphasized the importance of partnerships in geothermal development, mining, and aquaculture, and called on KNCCI to facilitate stronger linkages between businesses from both countries.

With the NGC meeting successfully concluded, focus now turns to the upcoming KNCCI Annual General Meeting scheduled later this year.