The Senate has renewed its call for the removal of bureaucratic barriers hindering investment in counties, saying streamlined regulations and efficient service delivery are critical to unlocking economic growth and strengthening devolution.

Speaking during the opening of the Senate Liaison Committee Roundtable with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) in Naivasha, Nakuru County, Deputy Speaker of the Senate and Chairperson of the Senate Liaison Committee, Sen. Kathuri Murungi (Meru) said counties must become more competitive and attractive to investors if Kenya is to realise the full benefits of devolution.

The roundtable, held under the theme “Enhancing County Competitiveness: Fixing the Red Tape, Fueling Investments,” has brought together Chairpersons from Senate Committees and private sector representatives to deliberate on measures aimed at improving the ease of doing business across the country.

Sen. Murungi noted that despite significant gains made since the introduction of devolution 15 years ago, investors continue to encounter numerous challenges, including unpredictable licensing procedures, multiple levies, fragmented regulations, delayed payments and bureaucratic bottlenecks.

“Too many investors still face unpredictable licensing regimes, multiple levies, fragmented regulations, delayed payments and bureaucratic bottlenecks,” he said.

“These challenges stifle innovation, discourage investment and undermine the very promise of devolution.”

The Deputy Speaker emphasised that counties remain the engines of Kenya’s economic growth and should be supported to become hubs of agribusiness, manufacturing, digital innovation, tourism and trade.

He observed that while the County Licensing (Uniform Procedures) Act, 2024 was enacted to streamline licensing processes and improve the business environment, implementation across counties remains uneven.

“The gap between good policy and effective execution is what this Roundtable seeks to close,” Sen.Murungi said.

“We must fix the red tape that is choking our counties if we are to unlock their full potential as hubs of agribusiness, manufacturing, digital innovation, tourism and trade.”

Sen. Murungi highlighted the longstanding partnership between the Senate and KEPSA, noting that the collaboration has contributed to the enactment of several key laws that support economic growth and investment.

According to the Deputy Speaker, the partnership has helped shape legislation such as the Climate Change Act, the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, the National Electronic Single Window System Act and the Sustainable Waste Management Act.

He added that several Bills currently before Parliament are also benefiting from private sector input, including the Artificial Intelligence Bill (Senate Bill No. 4 of 2026), the Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill and the Startup Bill.

“Over the years, the collaboration between the Senate and KEPSA has produced tangible results,” he said.

“This Roundtable continues that tradition. It is not merely a talk shop. It is a strategic platform for joint problem solving where legislation meets implementation and where policy meets the realities of doing business in our counties.”

He outlined several key areas of focus for the discussions, including strengthening institutional capacity and regulatory efficiency at the county level, enhancing data protection and cybersecurity frameworks, improving logistics and utility services, modernising market infrastructure, increasing efficiency at the Port of Mombasa and bridging the digital divide.

The forum will also explore ways of transforming agribusiness by addressing high production costs, strengthening climate resilience and tackling market fragmentation.

Sen. Murungi reaffirmed the Senate’s constitutional mandate to protect devolution through effective oversight, regulatory harmonisation and predictable resource allocation to counties.

“These are not abstract issues. They directly affect jobs, livelihoods and the ease of doing business across our 47 counties,” he said.

He challenged participants to move beyond identifying problems and instead develop practical solutions that can be implemented to improve county competitiveness.

“I urge all participants to engage candidly and constructively. Let us move beyond diagnostics to concrete, actionable recommendations. The Senate stands ready to fast track necessary legislative interventions and provide robust oversight to ensure implementation,” he said.

He also called on the private sector to actively contribute to policy discussions by sharing practical experiences and innovative proposals that can help improve the investment climate.

“To the private sector, your voice is indispensable. Bring us your practical experiences and bold proposals,” he said.

He further urged Senators and county leaders to demonstrate leadership by creating predictable, competitive and investor friendly environments capable of attracting investment and generating employment opportunities.