The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has conducted its branch elections for Marsabit County, that saw new branch officials elected into office.

The new leadership immediately pledged to automate services with a round-the-clock reach for the members, aimed at creating a conducive environment for the local business community.

During the elections held at the Catholic Conference Hall in Marsabit town, Mr. Salim Haroub defeated the incumbent, Mr Gure Ali, after garnering 159 votes against the opponent’s 141 votes to clinch the chairman’s seat.

The vice chairperson’s seat went to Mr Ali Nur Mumin, who sailed through unopposed.

The stiff elections were presided over by the chamber’s independent electoral board commissioner, Erastus Wanjohi, who commended the Marsabit business community for showing interest in the elections and conducting themselves responsibly despite the stiff competition witnessed.

The commissioner called on the new leadership, which includes nine directors, to work as a team to be able to serve the members effectively.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Haroub said that digitization of operations would be a priority in order to make the branch secretariat more responsive to the needs of the members.

The chairman added that the branch would strive to forge good working relations with both the national and county governments as the best way of creating an enabling environment for investment and business in the county.

“That is the best way we can protect our interests as traders so that we can expand and prosper,” he said, adding that thriving businesses were a sure bet of increased revenue for the government and enhanced development.

Urging local traders at all levels, that include small, micro, medium, and large enterprises, to register as members of KNCCI in order to strengthen the organisation, Mr Haroub pledged to accommodate the old leadership of the branch in the running of the chamber affairs.

Source: Kenya News Agency