As the security situation in the North Rift region further deteriorates, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) West Pokot County has raised concern over drastic drop in business along volatile borders in Counties in the North Rift Region Economic Bloc (NOREB) due to banditry attacks.
Speaking during a business stakeholders’ forum in Kapenguria, KNCCI West Pokot chair Mark Lotee said businesses at border points have been affected, coupled with supplies’ transport to the region.
Lotee said that business communities can’t access the resource-rich Counties in the region and that the affected regions are the backbone of the economy in the region and are losing millions of shillings as revenue. “Counties are unable to collect revenue due to banditry activities the government needs to beef up security in the regions,” he said.
However, he urged investors to invest in businesses in West Pokot County, “We have a huge potential that is yet to be exploited and I call upon investors to come and help us in exploiting the ventures,” he said.
On another note, he added that contractors who worked for projects in both set of governments are yet to be paid close to five hundred billion Kenya shillings. “Contractors who offered services to both governments have not been paid their dues and this has adversely affected flow of cash in this region,” he said.