KEPSA renews calls for peaceful election

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) has yet again reached out to the political class to call for peaceful elections in 2017.

With the country’s political temperatures already on high, players in the private sector fear destabilization of businesses during the election year will reverse the economy’s growth agenda.

Speaking during third speakers round table KEPSA chairman Denis Awori said the lobby group had signed a resolution with the senate to ensure peaceful elections are held.

The chairman warned that the upcoming elections if not managed well have a potential of destabilizing business including discouraging investment, leading to possible capital flight

“The 10 percent target for economic growth remains elusive and it can only be attained if we can work together to get the right business environment, build up our competitiveness and ensure that our politics don’t balkanize, divide and affect our business environment,” Amb Awori said.

Speaking at the forum, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula however said for elections to be peaceful, there is need to ensure the independent elections and boundaries commission is fair to all contestants.

“If we go to elections and we have a fair referee called IEBC    and they conduct elections in a manner that everybody sees as free and fair… then only a lunatic will resist to accept the outcome,” Mr Wetangula said.

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) has been agitating for changes to the electoral team saying it could not conduct a fair election as currently constituted. This saw the now famous teargas Monday demonstrations as the political camp took to the streets to call for the removal of IEBC commissioners.

KEPSA will on Tuesday release findings of a survey on the economic damage the protests caused.

KEPSA director Vimal Shah said election years usually see a slowdown in investments, something both public and private sector players need to change to ensure economic stability.

“It’s just another election but the impact of an election is so important. To the public it’s a time to slowdown,” Mr Shah said