Stop bickering, focus on economy growth, says UN chief
What you need to know:
- He cautioned county governments against levying exorbitant taxes on businesses to raise revenue, saying this can lead to “a flight of investment capital from the regions”.
UN Trade Chief Mukhisa Kituyi on Friday called for an end to political bickering among Kenyans and urged them to concentrate on growing the country’s economy.
Dr Kituyi said it was sad that the country registers an economic decline due to incessant political squabbling.
“In countries whose economies have developed, politics has contributed immensely to economic development. But in Kenya, politics is contributing to the decline of the economy,” said the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development secretary- general.
“If we are going to achieve the aspirations of Agenda 2030, to remain a serious player in the region’s economy, we have to focus on building a competitive enterprise Kenya,” he said.
Dr Kituyi was giving a keynote address during the second day of the Kisii Entrepreneurship Summit that ends Saturday.
Council of Governors Chairman Peter Munya, Kisii Governor James Ongwae and his Kakamega counterpart Wycliffe Oparanya were among the officials who attended the event.
Dr Kituyi said: “Entrepreneurial devolution will only succeed in Kenya if counties compete in best practices. Governors and MCAs should not waste taxpayers’ money going to foreign countries on benchmarking trips.
“Let us visit each other’s counties for such purposes,” he said.
He cautioned county governments against levying exorbitant taxes on businesses to raise revenue, saying this can lead to “a flight of investment capital from the regions”.
