by Ronald Njoroge
NAIROBI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's private sector umbrella body on Thursday expressed optimism that the country's economic performance in 2017 will not be affected by the forthcoming polls in August.
Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) CEO Carole Kariuki told a media briefing that Kenya has matured as a country after its experience of the 2007 post-election violence that claimed more than 1,000 lives.
"As the private sector, we expect that Kenya's economic growth will not be affected by the presidential elections as politics has been delinked from economic affairs," Kariuki said.
Noting Kenya's emergence as the economic hub for East and Central Africa, she said "We therefore expect that this year's foreign direct investment will surpass last year's figures."
KEPSA is championing for non-violence before, during and after the elections for the prosperity of Kenya through the Mkenya Daima initiative.
Mkenya Daima initiative Chairman Vimal Shah urged all political actors to play their rightful role of ensuring that peace and order prevail as the country approaches the national elections.
"We would also like to continue to encourage all institutions and agencies to ensure that they play their role as mandated in the constitution and ensure that Kenya, which has shown maturity as a young democracy, is able to conduct peaceful and credible elections," Shah said.
The chairman noted that Kenya's economic progress will only be accelerated if voters choose credible leaders who are issue-based and development conscious and those whose main agenda is improving the economy and the lives of Kenyans. Enditem