Countries
Kenya
Kenya’s economy appears to be doing rather well, despite the recent social and political upheaval. Its GNI per capita has increased from 460 US $ in 2005 to 770 US $ in 2010.
However its business climate has gone from 68th place in the WB Doing Business Report 2006 edition to 98th in the 2011 edition. In some ways, conditions have improved: starting a business used to take 13 procedures and 54 days in 2005, as against 11 procedures and 33 days in 2010.
On other scores, conditions have worsened: a Kenyan entrepreneur trying to enforce a contract needed 360 days involving 25 procedures in 2005, as against 465 days and 40 procedures in 2010.
Kenyan employers’ national and international interests are being represented by the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), member of the International Organisation of Employers. DECP undertook a first fact-finding mission to Kenya in 2007 and has been working with the FKE since then. DECP and FKE signed a partnership agreement in December 2008.
In their cooperation FKE and DECP have focussed i.a. on a comprehensive strategy to increase FKE’s income, on enhancing its services and the communication with its members, on strengthening its regional network as well as developing its research and advocacy capacity.
During the course of 2011 the FKE has adopted a proposal put forward by the DECP to visit all of its major members at least once a year under the “Account Management” programme. The FKE Board has also recently passed a resolution to ensure that its level of subscriptions both from its direct members as well as from its Association members is on a more equal basis.