Private sector advocacy

As predicted by local business leaders, among them Bidco’s Shah, the country has been facing a serious disruption of economic activities both in the public and private sectors since the August elections. This has not only concerned the business advocacy group, Mkenya Daima Initiative which is chaired by Bidco’s Shah. For instance, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), just like KEPSA has been pushing for a quick return to normalcy and an end to disruption of business activities. “The first half of the year has been a wait-and-see period. Most businesses will be shut for a week. Yet we’re in the second half of the year. We may end up strangling the economy and productivity,” says KNCCI chairman Kiprono Kittony, adding that due to past incidents, there’s a justification for business owners to be worried.

The big question then is: how does such business and investment by either KEPSA or KNCCI translate to an undermining of electoral processes? Why should Bidco, which employs thousands of Kenyans from varying political persuasions, be subjected to political crucifixion over a matter way beyond its reach based on non-proven allegations? At a time when the country direly needs investments and more job opportunities, politically allocating blame and accusations to companies without tabling sufficient and unbiased evidence is the last thing the economy needs.

For instance, when it started out over 30 years ago, Bidco was a manufacturing company. Today, not only has it put thousands of Kenyans on pay roll, but also provided thousands of secondary jobs through its edible oils, cooking fats, and detergent products. Currently, Bidco is constructing a Sh. 4 billion soft drinks plant in Thika. This is part of a Sh. 20 billion expansion blueprint that will see the company venture into other manufacturing streams. The fruits of these multi-billion investments are jobs that will see hundreds of jobless Kenyans earning a salary every end month irrespective of their political stand.