KAM Champions Manufacturing Agenda for Industrial Growth & Job Creation Ahead of National Elections

As part of our endeavour to grow the economy through industrialization, Kenya Association of Manufacturers is engaging political leaders during this pre-election period with the aim of sharpening the focus on the economic agenda of this country in their political party manifestos.

KAM has today met with the Jubilee Team led by the Party Executive Director, Winnie Guchu at Jubilee house following an initial meeting with NASA Principals Hon. Raila Odinga and Hon. Musalia Mudavadi.

Similar meetings with other political parties fielding presidential candidates have been scheduled

These engagements will be replicated across the country at both National and County levels culminating in the formal launch of the 10-point Manufacturing agenda later this month.

The agenda highlights the need to double jobs, double exports, increase foreign exchange earnings and raise manufacturing share of GDP to 15 percent by 2020.

It focuses on sectoral priorities such as: creating a massive export push, raising productivity to world class standards, promoting and leveraging ‘Buy Kenya Build Kenya’, tackling uncustomed goods and counterfeits, and developing a stable policy environment. Additionally, it makes proposals on job creation through the revamping of TVET curriculum in the country and offering apprenticeship.

It also looks at how to improve livelihoods through social housing, value addition in agriculture and value chain creation.

The need is to ensure competitiveness is emphasized in political manifestos, as the guaranteed solution, not just to ensure that Kenya can compete domestically and internationally, but more importantly to maintain and improve wages and living standards of all citizens.