KEPSA urges Business Community to Shun corruption

Nairobi, Tuesday, May 23, 2023

KNA by Bernadette Khaduli

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) has called upon its members to uphold high standards of fidelity and adhere to the Business code of ethics.

KEPSA Chief Executive Officer Carole Kariuki said all members must stick to the Business Code of Ethics they signed with the Alliance under the UN Global Compact and to continuously promote self-regulation in their sectors and work with KEPSA to weed out those doing unethical business.

“We reaffirm our commitment to the promotion of ethical business practices and to combating corruption and bribery in Kenya,” said the CEO, adding that the companies and organizations mentioned in all the mega corruption in government are not known KEPSA members unless they are using other names.  

In a press statement sent to newsrooms, the CEO applauded President William Ruto for the steps he has taken on the two heinous economic and health crimes against the people of Kenya involving corruption in the procurement of mosquito nets and the irregular release of 500 metric tons of imported industrial sugar that was already condemned by the Kenya Bureau of Standards.

“We laud the President for taking action on the irregular procurement of mosquito nets to safeguard millions of Kenyan households against the deadly malarial disease and acting on the release of the contaminated sugar containing harmful bacteria,” said Ms. Kariuki.

She said the two cases must be audited diligently and urgently and all those found to be culpable be prosecuted.

The CEO further noted that the Alliance has been at the front of fighting corruption, and initiating the development of the Bribery Bill and sponsoring it through Parliament for passing into law, besides working with the government under the multi-agency initiative in the fight against illicit trade involving counterfeits and substandard goods and services between 2018 and 2020.

Ms. Kariuki added there is need to streamline the importation process of sugar to enable the final consumers enjoy sustainable prices.

She noted that the country’s sugar industry possesses huge investment and job creation opportunities given the huge deficit between local production of 660000 metric tons against a projected shelf demand of 1.2 million metric tons that has encouraged annual importation to plug the deficit.

Ms. Kariuki thanked the government and the Ministry of Trade Investments and Industry for their dedication towards addressing the value chains inefficiencies in the sector to ensure the country becomes self-sufficient and net exporters of the basic commodity.

She assured that KEPSA will continue to create a conducive business environment and implementation of programs that have continually supported investments and jobs through its public-private dialogues to engage the government and other stakeholders in increasing Kenya’s global competitiveness to support jobs creation, economic growth and inclusive prosperity.

Courtesy; K.N.A