Arrogant civil servants and bureaucratic red-tape has ruined investor confidence in Kenya, Cabinet minister Najib Balala said yesterday. The tourism minister lamented endless protocol and countless procedures has destroyed Kenya's appeal as an investor haven. Frustrated Balala said senior technocrats have a low understanding of business and disdain of the law.He said rigid and slow civil servants scare away investors, yet Nairobi should be a top business destination in East and Central Africa. Balala said: “What kills this government is bureaucracy. Procurement roles and discretionary powers of individuals are too much. You cannot give an approval to somebody to build a hotel and two weeks later you stop that hotel.” He said lengthy procurement procedures must be reviewed to get the government functioning.
The minister said partisan politics in the coalition has taken centre-stage in every government plan and process. Basic decision making is clouded with political considerations and no progress can be made without certain individuals approving projects, he said. “The new constitution will change the entire governance structures. The private sector has to participate more and take advantage of the changes,” said Balala. The Mvita MP said investors go through hell to get any paperwork approved.
He made the speech at the Federation of Kenya coast branch AGM at a Mombasa hotel. Kenya should focus on encouraging local investors rather than spending time and money wooing foreign investors. “Then those foreign investors will feel the confidence of the current investors and know that the policy is right. Then you can be able to reach to foreign investors,” said Balala. Balala criticized foreign investors always keen for freebies so they can make quick money.
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