The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday launched the County Empowerment Program aimed at strengthening chamber activities in the 47 counties.
Through the program chamber will build capacity of KNCCI county chapters that have demonstrated the ability and have the potential for growth. KNCCI national office will develop criteria to select a certain number of counties to benefit from the program in four phases.
Further the program is expected to promote membership growth in the grassroots and enhance partnerships with the county governments and other key development partners.
Speaking at the launch ceremony Principal Secretary, State Department of Investment and Industry in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives Betty Maina said the government will continue to support the Chamber as this will not only have a catalytic impact on overall economic growth, but also amplify the Chamber’s global outreach efforts.
“To enable it to serve as a focal point for the private sector the government will be seeking to empower the chamber of Commerce with the resources it needs to effect the necessary reforms needed to make it more effective, efficient, accountable and transparent in its decisions,
The empowerment program is designed to address various challenges affecting the county chapters including lack of visibility at the counties, low membership recruitment, inadequate resources and staffing,” says Betty Maina PS State Department of Investment and Industry in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives.
“The County Empowerment Program will enable the emergence of strong chapters that can spearhead improvement in county business environments, increase investments at county level, enhance networking and improve information channels for better decision making.
Consequently, there will be more counties where business can thrive,” said KNCCI National Chairman Kiprono Kittony.
In the first phase 10 county chambers have been identified including:Kwale, Mandera, Meru, Makueni, Migori, Murang’a, West Pokot, Kakamega, Bomet, Lamu.