Bridging Policy and Enterprise: KEPSA and Parliament Chart Path to a Competitive, Inclusive Economy

By Steve El Sabai

Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), in a high level policy engagement with the National Assembly’s Finance and Budget Committees, convened to architect a bold and forward looking fiscal framework that aligns with the nation’s ambitions for global economic stature and inclusive growth. Themed “Our Journey So Far and What Lies Ahead: The Role of Fiscal Policy in Shaping Kenya’s Global Competitiveness,” the dialogue marked a critical departure from conventional consultation toward co ownership of Kenya’s fiscal destiny.
KEPSA’s leadership, spearheaded by Chairperson Dr. Jas Bedi, Board Director Vimal Shah, and CEO Carole Kariuki, provided incisive insights into the private sector’s aspirations for a more predictable, coherent, and business friendly tax regime. Carole Kariuki, in particular, emerged as a compelling voice for institutional collaboration, emphasizing the urgent need for fiscal policies that prioritize job creation, enterprise development, and long term national competitiveness.

Her stewardship reinforced KEPSA’s commitment to transforming fiscal policy into an instrument for empowerment rather than a tool of constraint. Under her guidance, the Alliance articulated a strategic shift from episodic engagement to institutionalized co creation in fiscal lawmaking, a move welcomed by Parliament’s leadership.

Finance Committee Chair Hon. Kimani Kuria and Budget Committee Member Hon. Makali Mulu echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need to root fiscal planning in transparency, inclusivity, and structured private sector involvement. The parliamentary side reaffirmed their willingness to embed industry voices into the drafting of the Finance Bill 2025, signaling a paradigm shift in Kenya’s fiscal governance.

Key proposals discussed included the immediate operationalization of a National Tax Policy and a Medium Term Revenue Strategy, mechanisms designed to provide the private sector with predictability and strategic clarity. Parliament also spotlighted reforms under the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act 2024, including streamlined VAT refund mechanisms and targeted exemptions to ease business restructuring, indications of a progressive, responsive legislative agenda.

Access to affordable credit emerged as a shared priority, with both sides championing the expansion of credit guarantee schemes, tax incentives for long term financing, and reforms aimed at unlocking financial inclusion for SMEs and emerging enterprises.

In addressing industrial competitiveness, the stakeholders called for strategic tariff realignment, strengthened tax support for agro industrial transformation, and deeper regional integration to stimulate domestic value addition and manufacturing growth.

While Kenya’s economy is projected to expand by 5.3 percent in 2025, leaders acknowledged the underlying socio economic disparities, 36.1 percent of the population living in poverty, a 13.9 percent unemployment rate, and a Gini coefficient of 0.39, as stark reminders of the need for fiscal equity. KEPSA CEO Carole Kariuki underscored the importance of directing fiscal policy toward supporting youth and women entrepreneurs, SMEs, and other vulnerable sectors that often remain excluded from traditional growth models.
Her message was unequivocal: Kenya must construct a fiscal culture that enables competitiveness while embracing inclusion. Under her leadership, KEPSA continues to position itself as the nexus between enterprise and policy, a space where the voices of business catalyze reforms and chart a path to national resilience.

As the Finance Bill 2025 looms on the legislative horizon, the convening served as more than just an exchange of ideas. It marked the formation of a purposeful alliance between private enterprise and public institutions. KEPSA’s vision, energized by the leadership of Carole Kariuki, is steering the conversation from possibility to policy, from ambition to execution.

With Parliament and the private sector now aligned in purpose, Kenya stands at the threshold of a transformative fiscal epoch, one where policy not only reflects economic aspirations but actively drives them.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kenya Diaspora Alliance and KDA Welfare Association Host Impactful 4th Annual Social & Business Networking Event

Image
Nairobi, Kenya – The Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA) and the KDA Welfare Association (KWA) hosted the highly anticipated 4th Annual Kenya Diaspora/KWA Social & Business Networking Event on January 2nd, 2025, at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi. The event brought together Kenyan diaspora members from around the world, offering a platform to network, share experiences, and discuss how their collective efforts can advance both their personal interests and the development of Kenya. This year’s event attracted a diverse group of participants from various countries, including South Africa, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, and Botswana. Local entrepreneurs and professionals also joined the diaspora, creating a vibrant environment focused on building connections and collaborations aimed at strengthening business ties and supporting the nation’s growth. Notable organizations such as ICEA Lion and Britam Asset Management were key partners at this year...
Read more

New Generation Aspirants Unveil Youth-Led Roadmap for a New Kenya

Image
By James Nyaigoti Kenya’s emerging crop of youthful leaders has today  launched a bold political movement aimed at reimagining the country’s future through youth-led leadership, unity, and structural reform. Under the banner New Generation Aspirants (NGA), the diverse coalition of young political hopefuls from across the country presented a unified roadmap for national renewal and transformation ahead of the 2027 general elections. The movement, dubbed "The New Generation Aspirants Youth Led Roadmap for a New Kenya", drew hundreds of aspirants ranging from grassroots to presidential contenders. Central to the day’s activities was the signing of the Ufungamano Declaration a document committing the coalition to a just, inclusive, and people-centered leadership agenda. “This is our moment” Lavani Miller, co-convener of the NGA forum, delivered a passionate call to action: “We are tired of the status quo. We are tired of a government that continually sidelines its you...
Read more

Senator Tabitha Mutinda Brings Warmth and Support to the Elderly at Kariobangi Cheshire Home

Image
By Steve El Sabai  In a remarkable show of empathy and servant leadership, Senator Tabitha Mutinda on Thursday visited the Kariobangi Cheshire Home for the Elderly, located in Embakasi North Constituency. Her visit was marked by heartfelt interactions with the elderly residents, during which she not only listened to their stories but also extended generous support through the donation of essential foodstuffs. A tireless advocate for youth and women empowerment, Senator Mutinda underscored the importance of community-centered leadership and the need to uphold the dignity of senior citizens. Her visit served as a powerful reminder that acts of compassion, no matter how simple, carry the power to uplift and unite. “Sharing is caring,” Senator Mutinda remarked, as she distributed food items to the residents—many of whom expressed joy and gratitude for the thoughtful gesture. Her visit reflects a deep sense of responsibility and dedication to inclusive governance...
Read more