Use our pull-down menus to find more stories
  


OR subscribers use AllAfrica's premium search engine


Click here to read or make comments on this topic »

Kenya: Assist Businesses Too


The Nation (Nairobi)
 

Email This Page

Print This Page

Comment on this article

The Nation (Nairobi)

EDITORIAL
15 May 2008
Posted to the web 15 May 2008

Nairobi

The Government is finally waking up to the fact that it is ultimately responsible for the safety of its citizens and their property. On Monday, President Kibaki took what is clearly a baby step in cobbling some form of restitution for victims of the post-election security lapse.

During the occasion, some Sh457 million was raised, mainly from Government agencies, toward helping the victims. It is part of the Sh29 billion targeted for the massive exercise.

Without delving much into the legality of the exercise, we note that this is an extraordinary situation that requires equal response. However, it is important for players to also look at the private sector, which in the medium term holds the key to return to a recovery path.

In our weekly business pullout, the Smart Company on Wednesday, we carried the sob story of Ukwala Supermarket, which is just trying to recover from the violence that rocked Kisumu. A director, Mr Hitesh Dhanani, laments neglect by the Government.

While we back the Government in its priority, we agree with the businessman on one thing: businesses must also be compensated.

Failure to do so would naturally starve some regions of investment, exacerbating the unemployment situation, which was only made worse by the looting. Insurance companies have shown their unwillingness to offer compensation, which leaves the Government as the only resort. The State must come out clearly and tell investors that it guarantees their investment.

Contrary to a cavalier attitude in some quarters, all regions need, nay, are crying for, these investments more than the investors need the regions.

Relevant Links

Let's compensate businesses also.



AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.

 
Share this on:
Facebook
Digg
Del.icio.us
StumbleUpon
Muti


Copyright © 2008 The Nation. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed

Top | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe

Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement.

HOME
allAfrica.com


Relevant Links




Several Killed in Fuel Tanker Explosion
President Halts Arrest of Former Governor Over Power Probe
Mbeki Forges New Ties with Europe
Zuma Assures Poor White Afrikaners
Watchdog Acts on Vodacom 'Lies'





Today's Most Active Stories