President H.E. Dr. William Ruto directed that the KEPSA Presidential Roundtable be anchored in law, institutionalising structured dialogue between the private sector and the Presidency.

The directive was issued at the 6th KEPSA Presidential Roundtable on Wednesday November 4 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, with more than 150 participants including a government delegation led by the President, Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, KEPSA members, the Diplomatic Corps and development partners.

The roundtable was convened in collaboration with the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry and the Kenya Investment Authority and was held under the theme “From Gatekeeping to Open Policy”, focusing on energy, finance and banking, trade facilitation and market access, ICT, social enterprise (health and education) and the regulatory framework.

KEPSA Chief Executive Officer Ms. Carole Kariuki described the roundtable as a critical platform for identifying economic achievements, future goals and business bottlenecks that need joint resolution.

KEPSA Board Chair Dr. Jas Bedi praised the government’s macro-economic stabilisation, noting that the Central Bank Rate fell from 13 per cent to 8.75 per cent, foreign-exchange reserves now cover six months of import cover and projected economic growth stands at 5.6 per cent, while urging conversion of stability into investment, jobs and higher household incomes.

Council of Governors Chairperson H.E. Governor Muthomi Njuki pledged to harmonise and standardise county fees, levies and charges through the County Licensing (Uniform Procedures) Act to create a more predictable, business-friendly environment.

In the energy sector the President directed full operationalisation of the Kenya National Energy Compact Action Plan by the end of 2026, the creation of a Compact Delivery and Monitoring Unit by December 2026, and the development of open-access, wheeling and net-metering frameworks by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority for completion by December 2026.

He also ordered a duty-exemption framework for the first 100,000 electric vehicles within one month, the conclusion of all outstanding Power Purchase Agreements by Kenya Power within two weeks, mobilisation of public investment through the National Infrastructure Fund to add 10,000 MW of generation capacity, and implementation of the auctions framework by December 2026.

Trade facilitation directives invited private investors to develop berths 11, 12, 13, 14, 23 and 24 at the Port of Mombasa, rationalised the agency presence to KPA, KRA, KEBS and Port Health, and committed to finalising trade discussions with India and the United States, including a Preferential Trade Agreement focused on market access for Kenyan exports.

The President urged the private sector to cooperate in eliminating fraudulent VAT refund claims and guaranteed Kenya Revenue Authority annual funding of at least 2 per cent of the revenue it expects to collect.

ICT directives required the National Treasury to remove import duties on tech devices for young gig and creative workers by December, to cut 25 per cent duty on mobile phones before December 2026, and announced progress on Kenya’s data adequacy negotiations with the European Union, with technical evaluation completed and approval expected by November 16, 2026.

Social enterprise measures included the launch of the SHA Plus health insurance package on Monday November 9, 2026 for middle-income earners, the release of KSh4 billion to settle NHIF legacy debt for providers with debt under KSh10 million, and a commitment of KSh15 billion to clear NHIF legacy debts for providers with claims exceeding KSh10 million.

The President also directed regulatory reforms at the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to be concluded by December 2026, increased local procurement by KEMSA, exemption of inbound travellers with valid insurance from the US$44 mandatory fee, a review of VAT treatment for pharmaceutical inputs, immediate implementation of the qualifications circular, advancement of five Education Bills before parliamentary recess, and construction of 180,000 student accommodation beds under the Affordable Housing Programme.

President Ruto said a follow-up meeting with KEPSA will be held before the end of 2026 to review progress on the directives and interventions.