The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) president Richard Ngatia’s campaigns for re-election in the upcoming KNCCI presidential elections yesterday, Tuesday 2nd May, received a boost following the unanimous endorsement of his candidature from counties forming the lower eastern block region.
Ngatia held talks with chamber leaders from the counties of Kitui, Machakos and Makueni who in unison, pledged to vote for his re-election alongside his running-mate Abdulwalli Sharrif at the on coming polls which are scheduled to be held on June 8th, 2023.
“Your pledge to vote for me and Shariff is a demonstration of your commitment to make a difference together. I want to assure you that we will continue fighting tirelessly for our shared prosperity,” Ngatia said in ackowledgement to the endorsement.
“I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude for taking time to hold discussions on concrete plans to exploit the huge economic potential of the three counties. I am happy to know that KNCCI projects I have spearheaded have had positive impact in these Counties,” Ngatia continued.
Ngatia has been endorsed by delegates from 5 counties drawn from the Mt Kenya region, 14 counties that form the Lake Region (Western, Nyanza and South Rift regions) and the metropolitan areas including Nairobi, Narok and Kajiado.
With a month to the KNCCI polls scheduled for June, Ngatia has hit the campaign trail countrywide and has met delegates from different counties who have given his re-election bid a thumbs up.
Fourteen counties of the Lake Region economic block met in Kisumu to make a declaration for Chamber President Ngatia’s second term while Central Kenya delegates unanimously endorsed Ngatia’s candidature for the presidency last week.
Ngatia will be battling the chamber’s first Vice President Dr Eric Rutto as the elections take shape. Dr. Rutto has had a tough time selling his candidature as the Ngatia re-election wave sweeps across the counties.
Ngatia has underscored his resolve tokeep strengthening partnerships with national and county governments if voted in for a fresh term.
Ngatia’s campaign has been boosted following backing from delegates across various counties totaling 28 and counting.
The polls, which will conducted by the Independent Electoral Board, have commenced at the grassroots
Under Ngatia’s leadership, KNCCI was at the forefront of supporting businesses to recover from the economic setbacks during the covid-19 pandemic.
KNCCI strengthened partnerships with both national and county governments, financial institutions and other corporate bodies, and development partners to support enterprises through digitization, credit access programmes, training and skill enhancement support for knowledge and capacity development and expansion of market links among other initiatives.
Ngatia was able to attract more members under his leadership, where the KNCCI membership increased from 20,000 to more than 60,000 members registered directly and another 1 million through associations owing to enhanced advocacy for an enabling business environment.
Ngatia is a member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) World Chambers Federation (WCF) General Council, the chairman International Conference on Great Lake Region-Private Sector Forum-ICGLR in Africa, deputy patron of Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Association, board member of East Africa Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and also Trustee PERAK.
