New Leader,

New Vision,
New Direction.
MANIFESTO
 Mr. Richard Ngatia’s Manifesto for the Presidential Bid of the Kenya
i National Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KNCCI) 2019 - 2021
Mr. Richard Ngatia’s Manifesto for the Presidential Bid of the Kenya
National Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KNCCI) 2019 - 2021 ii
My Message to the members of KNCCI
My Name is Richard Ngatia and I am the outgoing Chairman of the Kenya National
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) - Nairobi County. I am also the
Managing Director and CEO of Megascope Healthcare (K) Ltd, a distributor
of medical equipment and devices. Megascope is a solution provider for
turnkey health care related projects.
I am offering my self to be elected as President of the Kenya National Chamber
of Commerce and Industry.
I have had the privilege of being exposed to the dynamics of commerce and
industry locally, regionally and internationally over the years. In the process, I
have obtained crucial knowledge on global best practice in matters of commerce
and industry. This inspires me to invest my time and to share the insights of the
exposure I have gained thus far in modernizing the Kenya National Chamber
of Commerce and Industry. My ultimate desire is to
make the Chamber more responsive to the demands of a
markedly globalized trading environment of the 21st Century.

My fulfillment will come from assisting all current

and aspiring entrepreneurs and industrialists to find
their footing in business.

Aspirant - President,
Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry 2019 - 2022.
 Appreciation
I acknowledge and commend the
present leadership of the Kenya National
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(KNCCI) for revamping the Chamber
and starting the journey of restoring its
glory all within a very short period of time.

In particular, I appreciate and unreservedly

thank my dear brother and friend,
Kiprono Kittony, without whom, the
Chamber would not be where it is
today. Because of the commendable job
Kiprono and his team have done thus
far it is possible to envision a more
progressive Chamber in pursuit of a
bold agenda that will take this institution
to the next level.
With the hindsight, insights and
foresight I now have, I can confidently
assure our members—both current and
potential—that the transformative ideas
proposed herein will consolidate and
build upon the achievements of the
outgoing chairman’s tenure.

iv
 It was so difficult to
access money from
a bank, to start our
business. First, we had
no landtitle to offer as
collateral. Secondly, we
found the interest rates
so high.

v
Contents
MY MESSAGE TO THE MEMBERS OF KNCCI......................................................................................................................III
APPRECIATION...............................................................................................................................................................IV
MY VISION FOR THE KENYA NATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY....................................................1
MY PLEDGES..........................................................................................................................................................................2
Pledge 1: Grow the Number of Chamber Members...................................................................................................3
Pledge 2: Improve the Quality of Service Delivery to Chamber Members.................................................................7
Pledge 3: Accelerate the Mobilization of Financial Resources for Further Development of the
National Chamber and Improvement of each of its Chapters.....................................................................................11
Pledge 4: Expand the capacities of Chamber Chapters and Strengthen the
Chamber’s Economic Diplomacy....................................................................................................................................15
Pledge 5: Enhance the Chamber’s Advocacy Role as a preliminary measure towards Repositioning it
Strategically so that it Wins Solid Recognition Locally, Regionally and Internationally.................................................19
Pledge 6: Promote a Deeper Sense of Inclusion as well as Enhance Fairness and
Equity in the Running of Chamber affairs........................................................................................................................23
PICTORIAL..........................................................................................................................................................25
PRESS PICTURES................................................................................................................................................................32
PRIORITY PROJECTS..........................................................................................................................................................33
SME INDUSTRIAL PARK & COMMON FACILITY CENTRE...................................................................................................34
PROPOSED PLANS..............................................................................................................................................................35
PROJECT LED BY THE CHAMBER TO ENHANCE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF WOMEN.............................................37
CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................................................................................38
My Vision for the Kenya National Chamber
of Commerce and Industry.
I am convinced that there is no limit over 200,000 in 3 years; to build the
to what the Chamber can achieve, if capacity of the Chamber in order to
we elect a leadership that is focused on deliver on its mandate through
consolidating the achievements of the recruiting qualified personnel.
last few years whilst laying-out a
Other plans include equipping
bold agenda for coming years.
Chamber Chapters throughout the
That is why I am offering myself for
nation; improving the image of the
election as the President of the
Chamber; enhancing the Chamber
Kenya National Chamber of
effectiveness in advocating
Commerce and Industry for 2019 to
members’ interests and ensuring
2021.
that the Chamber delivers
Many campaign manifestos are
services that will grow your
usually awash with over-ambitious and
businesses. Ultimately, I believe that
impractical pledges meant only to
the Chamber is the best catalyst
excite and entice voters.
for business growth,
However, this document is different.
job creation, the attainment
Mine is a blueprint of what I intend in
of Vision 2030 and the
order to make the Chamber more
Big-Four Agenda.
effective in serving the needs of its
members. In this manifesto, you will find
If you would like a Chamber
my envisaged roadmap. The plan i
that works for you,consider
have for the Chamber entails, increasing
voting for me.
the resources that the Chamber attracts
and generates; to grow the
membership base of the Chamber
from the present 13,100 to
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MY PLEDGES

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Pledge 1: I will hasten the setting
up of a mechanism that will spur
the growth of numbers of
Chamber members.
Our Challenge
The Chamber membership base currently stands at
less than 20,000. However, there are more than 4 million
Small and Medium Businesses in Kenya that are
eligible for Chamber membership.

My commitment
I intend to:
Some County Chapters
• Activate a programme that will grow direct have as few as 40
membership numbers to at least 200,000 in my first members, while the
term of office. Chapter with the largest
number
of members has only
managed to attract only
400. We can do better!
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• Organize monthly membership
recruitment drives in collaboration
with the counties. Whenever
workable, we shall partner with media
houses, TV and Radio stations
especially in order to fast track
membership recruitment.
• Conduct regular visits to County
• Initiate a flexible payment plan for the
registration of members.
• Procure modern software to enhance
the management of service delivery to
members.
• Cultivate a family atmosphere among
• Hold monthly Chamber Chapter
networking events and attend atleast
one such event per county per year.
• Automate the payment of
membership dues alongside other
payments as well as invoicing. We
shall also automate the dissemination
Pledge 1: Continuation
of important reminders. This will be
done the same way such services
as the renewal of driving licenses,
DCI clearance certificates and
EACC clearance certificates are
done on the e-citizen platform.
Chamber Chapters in the company of
Chapter chairpersons. This will
motivate and incentivizee the growth
and retention of Chamber members
Chamber members to enhance
togetherness. I will encourage
sharing of goodwill messages
and brotherhood gestures among
Chamber members during such
occasions as Easter, Idd and
Christmas.
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Pledge 2: I will root for the improvement
of the quality of services delivered to
Chamber members.
Our Challenge
Currently, Chamber members are grappling with high
cost of finance, itself a big hindrance to business
growth. Other challenges include; lack of markets for
members’ goods and services as well as lack of
adequate entrepreneurial skills among members

My Commitment
I intend to: Although
the Chamber has
• Within the first year, set up a special Chamber fund substantially improved
to offer members finance a t affordable interest the quality of its services
rates. Rules to guide the lending will be set in to its members, many
order to administer a sustainable fund. of them still need to be
provided with business
development services
that grow their
businesses.
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• Work towards speedy reintroduction
of the Chamber Sacco and initiate
mechanisms of saving in order
to expand opportunities for the
acquisition of affordable credit for our
members.
• Lobby for the return of the Jua Kali
(now known as SME) fund to be
administered by KNCCI.
• Organise trade fairs and joint
marketing campaigns for members.
This will give members an opportunity
to learn and also promote and market
their goods and services.
• Organise regular trade delegations
and buyer-seller missions.
• Partner with the National Police Service
to enhance the security of member
businesses
This will be done through a special
mechanism that will improve the
reporting of and acting upon security-
related incidents.
Pledge 2: Continuation
• Establish an apprenticeship and
internship programme to benefit
member SMEs’.
• Within 6 months, establish a business
data intelligence bank—the first of its
kind in East Africa—that will host
targeted information on business and
investment opportunities in Kenya. This
databank is a potential source of
revenue for the Chamber.
• Establish an SME academy that will
offer short-term certificate courses in
entrepreneurship through strategic
partnerships with various learning
institutions. This will empower
Chamber members and keep them up
updated on global trends and best
practices. Such exposure will enhance
competitiveness of the goods and
services offered by Chamber
members.
• Assist businesses owned by our
members to reach global audiences
through websites designed for them on
request for free.
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Pledge 3: I will accelerate the mobilization of
financial resources for further development
of the Chamber and improve each of our
chapters.

The Challenge
Currently the Chamber lacks adequate financial
muscle to cater for crucial development activities.
Presently, there is too much dependency on the
income from membership dues and Certificates of
Origin (COO). These two sources of income cannot
finance desired cutting-edge Chamber programmes. We are
mainly relying
on income from
membership dues
and the issuance of
Certificates of
Origin. This is
unsustainable

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My Commitment
I intend to:
• Engage donors and prepare
fundraising proposals and funding
concept notes to be sent to such
organisations as USAID, UN,
EU, CIPE, TMEA, BAF, Bill Gates
Foundation, Safaricom Foundation
and so on.
• Establish an SME industrial Park and
common facility on the 25 Acres of
land the Chamber owns in Thika.
• Establish an SME Chamber
academy that will generate income
through offering short business and
technical courses.
Pledge 3: Continuation
• Work towards acquiring land from
County governments and make such
property home to priority Chamber
programmes.
• Negotiate for the disposal of Ufanisi
House at a reasonable price and
purchase a suitable replacement as
soon as possible.
• Develop in close collaboration with
County Chapter leaderships
existing Chamber properties across
the country.
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Pledge 4: I will make every effort to expand
the capacities of Chamber Chapters and
strengthen the Chamber’s Economic
Diplomacy.

The Challenge
At present, some Chamber Chapters are not
functional, some lack offices while others are
understaffed. Some even lack financial means to
serve our esteemed members.

Some County Chamber

Chapters lack the basics,
necessary for the
effective functioning of a
business association,
including: office space,
vehicles and computers
etc
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My Commitment
I intend to:
• Improve corporate governance
at the headquarters and
inject professionalism in
the management of County
Chamber Chapters.
• Establish economic diplomacy
desks in every County to
enable businesses to register
their interests in respect to
partnerships and desired
collaboration.
• Empower regional directors to
effectively carry out their duties.
• Equip and empower Chamber
Chapter CEOs to enable them
to run their secretariats
professionally.
Pledge 4: Continuation
• Improve the county
empowerment programmes
and ensure that all the 47
county chapters benefit in
a fairer and more equitable
environment.
• Invest in office equipment for
County Chapter offices.
• Establish an ICT platform to
link all the County Chapters
with the headquarters for ease
of networking.
• Establish an annual conference
of all county CEOs and
chairpersons of relevant
committees in order to
reposition and strengthen the
Chamber.
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Pledge 5: I will enhance the Chamber’s advocacy
role as a preliminary measure towards
strategically repositioning it to win solid
recognition locally, regionally and internationally.

The Challenge
At the moment, the Chamber is clearly not the premier
and preferred private sector representative in Kenya. Its
thunder has been snatched by the likes of KEPSA and
KAM. It is time the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce
and Industry reclaimed its place of honour as the most
coveted body to represent and champion commercial and
industrial interests of Kenyans.

My Commitment It is important
that the image of the
Chamber is further
I intend to: spruced up, so that it
becomes the go to
• Establish quarterly Chamber presidential roundtable organization by
meetings. government and donors
in their partnership and
association with the
private sector.
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• Ensure all County Chamber chairmen
are invited for national days and key
state functions and whenever possible
meet with the president for networking
and visibility.
• Lobby for the timely payments of
goods and services supplied by SMEs’
to the Government.
• Lobby for state awards and
decorations for Chamber members
who deliver illustrious service to the
people and the country.
• Initiate quarterly governors’ roundtable
forums that will include County
assembly speakers and committee
chairpersons during meetings for
county chapters.
• Initiate a diplomatic dinner twice every
year where key foreign contacts and
envoys with the ability of unlocking
opportunities for strategic linkages
and business opportunities will be
hosted.
• Organize annual budget reviews to
enable businesses understand and
Pledge 5: Continuation
unpack government regulations, with
the help of reputable audit firms such
as KPMG, Delloite PKF and PWC.
• Initiate a national campaign to address
the issue of trade imbalance. The idea
is to actively promote our local exports
and discourage the importation of
non-essential goods. It also includes
lobbying for tariff reduction.
• Advocate for fair trade with our
neighbours & participate as well as
support the process of solving any
cross-border disputes. An example
is the case of the harassment of our
fishermen in Nyanza.
• Advocate for free trade among
counties and lobby for the removal
multiple taxes, statutory fees and
licenses.
• Actively lobby for Chamber members
to be appointed to parastatal boards
and government task forces at both
the national and county levels.
• Advocate for a well-supported 24-hour
economy.
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Pledge 6: I will endevour to promote a
deeper sense of inclusion as well as
enhance fairness and equity in the running
of Chamber affairs.

The Challenge
At the moment the Chamber lacks a convincing policy
to guide equity in the distribution of proceeds from
Certificates of Origin and other Chamber benefits.

Some County
Chapters lack the basics,
necessary for the effective
functioning of a business
association. This state of
affairs hampers service
delivery

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 Pledge 6: Continuation

My Commitment • Develop an affirmative fund and

guidelines in favour of arid and
semi-arid lands (ASALs), women,
I intend to: youth and persons living with
disabilities for Chamber members.
• Establish a more equitable
and fairer distribution formula
• Establish a special committee
for sharing of proceeds from
comprising select county officials
Certificates of Origin (COO)
to engage the national treasury
among Counties
and relevant parliamentary
committees to guide in identifying
• Mentor young entrepreneurs
needy cases and deploying
through county chapters and form
benefits from the National
a special national programme
Equalization Fund.
to serve as an incentive for
expanding the Chamber’s
membership base.

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 PRIORITY
PROJECTS

SME Industrial Park & Common

1 Facility Centre

SME Academy & Dual-Vocational

2 Institute.

Project led by the Chamber to

enhance the Competitiveness
of Women-Led Micro, Small and
3 Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
through Financing, Innovation and
Entrepreneurship.

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 SME Industrial Park & Common Facility Centre
The Chamber has 25 acres of land in Thika on
which we propose to set up a SME Industrial
Park and Common Facility Center. This
facility will host up to 100 MSMEs and large-
scale industries housing footwear producers/
cobblers, tanneries, furniture-makers, welders,
aluminum fabricators, bakers, packaging
experts, logistics firms and a host of other small
business owners.
The same facility will also host an export-
processing zone that will process and pack
products for export. The park will enjoy low-cost
electricity, integrated amenities and subsidized
rent among other benefits. It will be home to
facilities that artisans and small and medium
scale enterprises will utilise to grow
their businesses. We shall work with the
government and propose that the various
local government services like trade license
issuance, business
registration services are set up at the park for
ease of access for SMEs.
The park will have a teaching and training center
where critical skills programmes will be taught.
That way, we shall empower entrepreneurs
and business owners to hone their skills in
order to produce high quality goods. In turn,
we shall pave the way for our youth and their
businesses to prosper. Skills acquisition will
be delivered alongside enterpreneurship and
business management. The knowledge to
be imparted will include skills in start-up
acceleration, digital marketing and branding.
For now, this is a proposal. Once you elect
me into office I shall champion the lobbying of
the proposal to the board and development
partners for funding and implementation.
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Proposed SME Industrial Park & Common Facility Centre.
 Project led by the Chamber to enhance the
Competitiveness of Women-led Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
through financing, innovation and
entrepreneurship.

The proposed project will contribute to and
revamp KNCCI’s work on MSMEs. It will
particularly enhance women’s inclusion
in the Kenyan economy. In Kenya the
full potential of women’s contribution to
the Kenyan economy remains largely
untapped.
In this regard I propose a project that
will feature skills training workshops on
women entrepreneurship and Innovation
and organise ‘Women in Business
Awards’ by the Chamber to recognize
best practices by women entrepreneurs
in the various MSME sectors.
Women led MSMEs’ have a great potential
to address the challenges of providing
employment and livelihood to the growing
population. Finally, in brief, this project
seeks to:
(a) Raise awareness of impediments that
women suffer in running sustainable and
thriving MSMEs’.
(b) Disseminate best practices on women
entrepreneurship.
(c) Explore possible means for KNCCI
members to collaborate in creating
a conducive environment for women
MSMEs nationally.

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CONCLUSION
As they say in Kiswahili, ‘PANAPO NIA PANA NJIA’. MIMI NINA NIA.
NYINYI MNA UWEZO WA KUNIPATIA NJIA.

We shall win and together we shall accomplish more.Join me in the

journey i intend to undertake.

I invite you to add your weight to my bid for the presidency of the
Chamber as i seek to offer a fresh, credible and practical alternative
for our Chamber and its members. Mine is a pursuit of Economic
Growth, Development and Prosperity for all.

In me you will find an honest, capable and dedicated leader; a clear

plan and commitment to ensure that all of us enjoy the benefits that
will translate into economic and social progress.

Thank you.
God bless you all!

“ Vote Ngatia,
Vote Progress ” 38