The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry has signed an advisory agreement with the World Bank Group’s Kenya Competitiveness Enhancement Program (KCEP) to enhance the Public-Private Dialogue frameworks at the county level; a move that will help pave the way for the implementation of business-friendly reforms and unlock additional investment for Kenya’s private sector.

As part of the Agreement, KCEP will support the Chamber to Review and enhance the institutional and advocacy framework required to facilitate Public-Private-Dialogue in Kajiado, Kilifi, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nairobi, Narok, Nakuru, Turkana and Uasin Gishu counties. The Agreement also includes support towards the development a database of new laws, regulations, licenses, taxes, fees that have implications on the county business environment to enable tracking and analysis of the business environment.

President of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Richard Ngatia said “A project of this stature is commendable, as it shall: – Promote better diagnosis of the investment climate problems, design of policy reforms, build an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding between public and private sector and improving social cohesion.”

Sarah Ochieng, the Program Manager from the World Bank Group’s Kenya Competitiveness Enhancement Program said: “At the national level, Kenya has received regional recognition as a benchmark amongst her peers when it comes to matters PPD and it is a high time we cascaded the learnings to the County level.”

KCEP is a four-year program financed by UK Aid, which aims to strengthen Kenya’s business environment, enhance efficiency and transparency. KCEP also supports the development of markets in key sectors leading to increased private investment through targeted legal and regulatory improvements at national and sub-national levels. KCEP is being implemented by the World Bank Group’s Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation Global Practice