Ngatia Pledges Good Laws And Policies

By Adieri Mulaa

Nairobi City gubernatorial aspirant Richard Ngatia has pledged to introduce laws and policies that will promote business growth in the capital, if he is elected in August.

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry president says he will also work with Members of Nairobi City County Assembly (MCAs) to initiate good governance structures at City Hall for effective and efficient service delivery.

“Most of our City County by – laws are archaic. We require laws that are aligned to the current needs of the city residents, various businesses in Nairobi and needs of our youth like social amenities”, said the gubernatorial aspirant.

Mr Ngatia spoke in Kilimani during a town hall meeting with groups of the Akamba community residents in Nairobi. They included traders, women and youth groups and their leaders.

The Chamber president is on a rigorous campaign trail before he formally declares his candidature later this month, ahead of party nominations.

About a week ago, Ngatia held a similar meeting with members of Abagusii community in Nairobi. They were led by nominated Senator Beatrice Kwamboka who has declared her interest in Nairobi Woman Representative’s seat through ODM, under the Azimio La Umoja Movement.

Over the years, ethnic alignments have largely informed the voting patterns in Nairobi in the past election cycles. The August 9th General Election may not be any different.

In a thin veiled statement, without mentioning names, Ngatia threw a friendly jab at former Starehe MP Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, to shelve her gubernatorial bid and back him.

“At times we hear that some churches have been demolished or they face challenges for one reason or another and some people in those churches are bishops”, Ngatia said.

“Why should they bring the church into politics, he posed. Instead, they should remain in church and pray for Ngatia to succeed and we will also help them”.

Bishop Wanjiru is in the UDA party of Deputy President William Ruto, now under Kenya Kwanza Alliance. Last Tuesday, the Bishop engaged in a public altercation with Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja while on a Kenya Kwanza Alliance campaign trail in Westlands, Nairobi.

Senator Sakaja has also declared his intention to run for Nairobi governor’s seat in the 9th August General Election. So far, he is inclined on the ANC party. 

Ngatia revealed that he reached the decision to enter the gubernatorial race after soul searching and careful consultations.

“I have come with full force because after going through intense souI – searching and wide consultations, I made a commitment seek to serve Nairobians as governor”.

Besides being the Chamber president, Ngatia is a renowned business magnetic in the medical sector, where he sits as the Managing Director and CEO of Megascope Healthcare Limited. The company is a major corporate player in the healthcare sector in Kenya.

Megascope company is also a key provider of healthcare equipment and leasing schemes for county governments in the country.During the Kilimani town hall meeting, he promised to ensure that Nairobi residents and people operating various businesses in the city were not harassed unnecessarily by county enforcement askaris.

“Enforcement will not be carried out irrationally unless in clear circumstances where people contravene by – laws or policy guidelines that would be put in place by my administration for proper governance if I am elected governor”, he said.

The KNCCI president revealed that many entrepreneurs in and outside Africa were willing to invest in Nairobi and other regions of Kenya by setting up industries and factories that would create jobs.

“As the Chamber president, I talk to many friends within Africa and overseas who are entrepreneurs in various fields. I also talk to local entrepreneurs in the corporate sector who I work for as the Chamber president”.

“They have identified good business opportunities in Nairobi but they want to see good leadership in the capital city where their investments will be protected to thrive and make returns. Hence, as an entrepreneur myself, I am best suited to fill that gap as governor of Nairobi”, he noted.

About The Author