In his attempt to retain his position as the head of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Richard Ngatia failed.
He was soundly defeated by Erick Rutto in the election that took place on Thursday.
Ngatia received 208 votes, while Rutto received 291 votes. He will now succeed Ngatia as President of the KNCCI, with Mustapha Ramadhan serving as his deputy.
Ngatia was seen as the front-runner because he made significant financial investments during the campaigns to win over influential political figures.
Given his well-oiled campaign machine, Rutto’s victory over Ngatia to become President of the vital KNCCI has left more questions than answers.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula and Chairperson of the Council of Governors Anne Waiguru are among those who supported Ngatia.
Ken Lusaka of Bungoma, Wilber Ottichilo of Vihiga, and Joseph Lenku of Kajiado are two governors who supported Ngatia for reelection.
Ngatia won the KNCCI’s top position without opposition in 2019 and is running unopposed for re-election with Abdulwalli Shariff.
Rutto promised to boost the number of women- and youth-owned enterprises when he unveiled his program.
He added that people with impairments wouldn’t be forgotten.
“In a world that is constantly changing, it is my vision that by working together we can build a chamber that is able to adapt, prioritise and effectively meet the wants and needs of its membership, partners, and Kenya’s economy,” he added.
