The cabinet has Tuesday met and taken decisions that will significantly improve the ease of doing business in the country.
Cabinet scrapped all construction-related charges levied by government ministries and counties in a significant move to bolster the sector and foster investment.
President Uhuru Kenyatta chaired the Cabinet meeting at State House Nairobi.
Multiple charges levied by various ministries, departments, agencies and county governments for the construction industry had contributed to the increase of costs in the sector, and led to inordinate delays in obtaining requisite approvals, Cabinet said in reaching the decision.
Cabinet’s actions will encourage investors, increase investor confidence and improve the cost of doing business.
Cabinet said it had eliminated duplication of roles with a view to ensuring that government ministries and departments performed their core mandate. Overlapping services will now be performed by the ministry, department or agency best suited to offer the requisite service.
Cabinet decided that all affected legislation and regulations would be amended to bring into effect the scrapped levies.
Cabinet also decided on the creation of a one-stop shop approach, such as that delivered within Huduma Centres, for licensing and registration of contractors by the National Construction Authority.
Moveable Property Security Rights Bills 2016
Cabinet approved the Moveable Property Security Rights Bill, 2016, which will provide for the creation of an electronic registry, enhance confidence of the lending institutions and create an enabling environment to lend against moveable assets as collateral.
The greatest beneficiaries from these key reforms, which will now go to parliament for debate and enactment, are Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. It will allow lending to a group that has previously struggled to access credit, and the economy to benefit from the immense potential that MSMEs have in driving economic growth.
National Coroners Service Bill
Cabinet approved the National Coroners Service Bill 2016, and instructed the Attorney-General to table it in parliament for debate.
A Coroner performs a public service by making enquiries into the sudden death and unexplained deaths independently of the medical profession, the State or parties who might have an interest in the outcome of an investigation into a death.
The establishment of this service will reflect on the reassurance given to society by such independent action and mirror the great value on the right to life specified in the constitution.
By PSCU.