Trade CS, Moses Kuria challenged Kenyan manufacturers and businessmen to toughen up and embrace competition rather than complain about cheaper products flooding the local market from neighbouring countries.
Kuria addressed traders in Nairobi while presiding over the Kenya Association of Manufacturers' Humanitarian Initiative 2022 in Nairobi on Friday, October 28.
The CS, who accompanied Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, wants Kenyan business people to hatch other legal strategies to raise Kenya's profile.
“How did we get here where we complain of imports from Uganda which are finishing our farmers?
"We have to stop the culture of complaining and look at our competitiveness. If you are not competitive, don't expect mercy from the government of Kenya,” he said.
“Manufacturing is both yours and our business as the government. Next week, I will meet all the fourteen sectors so that we do a deep dive to ensure that we are competitive in all our sectors,” he added.
The former legislator has, however, insisted that the government is willing and ready to support the business community as long as it is not motivated by lamentations.
Kenyans, especially those in business, have been pushing the government to pass policies that ensure farmers can compete against cheaper products emanating from other countries within the East Africa Community.
Kuria’s speech, however, revealed that the traders have a herculean task in convincing the government to crack on the imports.
Speaking at the same event, DP Gachagua took a softer and more hopeful approach, promising that the government would work on collapsing business licenses to one to ease startups.
“We must end the issue of multiple licenses. You can go to an office, and you can’t tell the original colour of the wall because of the number of licenses.
"We will make the licensing process easy by pushing it online,” he said.
The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has been keen on working with the newly elected Kenyan government. KAM fronted ideas to align with the new administration's policies of encouraging entrepreneurship through lowering interest rates and maintaining a conducive business environment.
President William Ruto, while meeting the association during the campaigns, committed to implementing programmes and initiatives to increase the competitiveness of the local industry.
“We shall deliberate on our investments by prioritizing sectors with the highest potential to create jobs.
"To increase Kenya’s exports, we shall finalize and implement the National Tax Policy, increase value addition in all primary exports and reduce the regulatory burden on the manufacturing sector,” he said.
The government is also set to launch the much-awaited Hustlers Fund expected to boost small businesses.
