The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has expressed decried rising insecurity in Eldoret especially rampant theft of cars and robberies.
Region's KNCCI chairman Willy Kenei said unless security teams act on the problem, it may undermine investor confidence in the town that is about to be elevated to city status in the next few month.
Kenei’s concern comes just days after a taxi driver Patrick Muiruri, was abducted and went missing for several days before his body was recovered in a tea plantation. His stolen car was found in a compound within Kapsoya estate in Eldoret.
Uasin Gishu police commander Benjamin Mwanthi said six people who were found dismantling stolen vehicles in the town had been arrested and taken to court.
Kenei who spoke during the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Eldoret, said the business community in the town was worried and urged police to move with speed to stop gangs perpetrating insecurity in the region.
“We are soon becoming a city, and we are all interested in peace and security because without peace, then we cannot do anything else.”
Kenei at the same time said although they had been working closely with the Uasin Gishu county government, the chamber and the business community was displeased by a recent decision by the county to demolish business signages and advertising boards from premises in the CBD.
“As the business community, we urge that such actions should not happen again because all business people had paid for the signages and they were not consulted or involved when a decision was made to demolish the signages,” the chairman said.
He demanded that traders in the region be respected and consulted through the chamber before such decisions are enforced.
Kenei chairs the ad hoc committee on conferment of city status to Eldoret town. He says the administration of Governor Jonathan Bii should do everything possible to safeguard existing businesses and attract investors.
“The demolition of signages was one bad incident but overall, we are happy with the administration of Governor Bii because they have been consulting us on most issues.”
He welcomed the government's plan to set up an EPZ area in the town where an investor was already planning to set up a new enterprise at a cost of more than Sh8 billion. More than 6,000 youth will be employed in the EPZ area, he said.
Kenei said the recent successful hosting of the devolution conference in Eldoret, proved that the town was ready to attract more investors and international forums, that would benefit the local business community.
