by Chrispinus Omar
NAIROBI, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The nullification of the presidential elections on Sept. 1 has sent a positive signal to potential international investors intending to enter Kenya, chief of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), an alliance of nearly 100,000 businesses, told Xinhua on Thursday.
KEPSA Director Linus Gitahi said the nullification of the presidential election demonstrated the business environment remains favorable and disputes are resolved amicably without bias, which is a key requirement for foreign businesses planning to enter the market.
Gitahi, a former Chief Executive Officer of the Daily Nation, East African region's leading media organization, said businesses all over the world require certainty and proper planning, among other issues such as political stability, which has been demonstrated by the adherence to the rule of law.
He said the Supreme Court settled the biggest political issue which arose from the 2017 general elections by ordering a repeat of the presidential election.
The repeat poll has been slated for Oct. 26, after the Court found fault with the conduct of the process and its failure to follow the rule of law.
"We have a court system that has demonstrated we can work on much more serious issues but we have been unable to work on the minor issues which has seen people get to the streets. The effect of these street demonstrations is that they have prevented small business people from trading," Gitahi said in an interview.
Political parties have been unable to agree on issues such as the exit of some of the officials from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) who were accused of contributing to commission and omissions which led to the Supreme Court's nullification of the presidential election.
The KEPSA executive said the street demonstrations might not advance the country's democracy as much as the Supreme Court had demonstrated the country was on the right democratic path.
"Business is so unhappy. We hope we could turn back the cycle of street demonstrations. We should never have been on the streets when the highest court in the land is working on a timely way to resolve all disputes and nobody is being prevented from pursuing these rights," Gitahi said.
Gitahi said apart from demonstrating the fact that businesses can enjoy maximum protection, a new business environment has been built, which is supported by the political environment premised on the rule of law, good governance and the full participation of citizens in public affairs.
"We as the business community shall stand up and be counted for advocating the rule of law," he said.
He said it would work in the best interest of the business community, if the country's political parties, state institutions and independent bodies also obeyed the law.
Supporters of the opposition, the National Super Alliance (NASA) led by Raila Odinga have intensified street protests in different towns and cities across the East African nation to press for reforms at the electoral body as well as stop changes to the electoral laws which President Kenyatta has vowed to sign into law.
The protests have resulted in destruction and looting of property prompting the government to ban demonstrations from the central business districts in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.
KEPSA said it hopes measures to stabilize businesses would be implemented once the country completes its current political process on Oct. 26 with the repeat election.
"We are competing as a country with the best business destinations in the world so that we can grow our economy. Once we have sorted out these challenges, we will need to get back to the main issues affecting the business environment such as getting low-cost energy and building essential infrastructure."
Gitahi said the government in the East African nation was implementing an ambitious energy plan to improve the business environment by generating 5,000 MW of electricity from affordable sources and expanding the road and transport system.
It was also implementing a critical last-mile electricity connectivity system targeting poor households.
"The business community is prepared to play its part in fighting the perception created by these demonstrations in a more aggressive way because the truth is that they are not widespread," Gitahi said.
