A status report released on Tuesday, following the recent AmCham Business Summit in Nairobi, places pressure on the country to improve the business environment President William Ruto, AmCham CEO Paul Muthaura and other officials during theAmerican Chamber of Commerce Business Summit in Nairobi, in September/ HANDOUT KENYA needs to improve tax and regulatory predictability, prepare bankable projects and strengthen infrastructure to convert growing US investor interest into actual investments, according to a new trade report.
The recommendations in a status report released on Tuesday, following the recent American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Business Summit in Nairobi in September, places pressure on the country to improve the business environment. The report argues that attracting American capital will require more than promoting Kenya as a regional gateway.
It calls for practical reforms, faster project execution and a joint mechanism to track investment commitments and resolve barriers that delay businesses. A key proposal is the establishment of a US-Kenya Investment Implementation Taskforce to monitor commercial commitments, address obstacles and accelerate the transition from investment discussions to operational projects.
The report also recommends reforms to tax administration, including measures to stabilise tax policy and improve the timely processing of value-added tax refunds, which have remained a concern for businesses. “Investors are also seeking predictable licensing and regulatory procedures, clear rules and reliable government decision-making before committing long-term capital,” the report by the American Chamber of Commerce-Kenyan chapter, states.
The recommendations come as Kenya seeks to deepen commercial ties with the United States following the AmCham Business Summit, which brought together government officials, investors and business executives to explore opportunities across seven sectors. These are manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, energy and infrastructure, digital economy, critical minerals and the creative economy.
The summit generated more than $600 million (about Sh77.7 billion) in investment pledges and commitments from US companies, highlighting the scale of potential capital available to Kenya.