Ruto To Honour Campaign Promise To Kenyan Businesses

President William Ruto's administration will from January 2023 roll out the single business permit as part of a promise he made during his campaigns.

Speaking during the opening of the fifth edition of the Changamka Shopping Festival hosted by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) on Tuesday, November 1, Trade, Industry and Investments Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria stated that the government was eyeing the launch of the project by January 2023.

The move will commence on a pilot basis starting in Nairobi and is part of the measures by the government to eliminate the punitive business requirements of obtaining multiple permits and cut down on costs incurred.

Kuria expressed that the move would encourage potential business owners to invest their money without the pitfalls that they encounter in form of several permits.

Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria. /FACEBOOK

"A single business permit has to be a reality. Governor Sakaja and myself, we have agreed to pilot this in Nairobi. We are looking at areas of opportunities, not just cost issues but bureaucratic issues," said Kuria.

"We will work together and by the first week of January, Nairobi we will have implemented the single business permit."

On his part, representatives from the Nairobi County government led by Deputy Governor Njoroge Muchiri expressed their support for the move.

Muchiri noted that the administration would implement security measures on the permits so that traders do not take advantage of the new exercise.

"When you get to pay for a specific permit, we create one single permit that is going to have a QR code so if anybody checks they can see that you are actually licensed. We are not going to drop revenue streams," said Muchiri.

The implementation of the single business permits was one of President Ruto's campaign promises, despite noting that many Kenyan youths were struggling to set up their businesses given the numerous requirements by the federal and county governments on permits.

Ruto's Plan To Ban Mitumba

Kuria further noted that the government will also look at banning the importation of second-hand clothes, commonly known as ‘mitumba’, once they find an alternative from the local textile industry.

“Whatever is required for us to sell to our people the same way we are selling to America, we will do. Once the option is available we will do it like South Africa. South Africa banned mitumba. I’m sure you want me to say that we are going to ban mitumba, Yes, we will ban mitumba once we give people an alternative and then we ban it,” said Kuria.

“The price we are selling to America is much lower than Mitumba. It’s not a question of price, it’s a question of availability, and it’s a question of information. I will work with the textile industry and make sure that first, we make the cheaper clothes available in this market."

Notably, the subject of Mitumba led to a collision course between President Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga during the campaign period.

“Our people are only wearing mitumba, clothes that are coming outside the country, that are worn by people who are dead. We are going to go to primary production so that our people who are importing mitumba can have good products to sell here, " said Raila, which prompted Ruto to accuse him of trying to kill the Mitumba industry.

The comments also rattled the former Gatundu South Member of Parliament, who went on a shopping spree in Gikomba and promised the sellers that Kenya Kwanza will protect their businesses.

Moses Kuria with mitumba traders in Gikomba during the campaign period. /FACEBOOK