Business thrives where there is peace and justice

The arrival of International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Moreno Ocampo in Kenya should be especially welcomed by the business community.

For many Kenyans, especially those affected by the post election violence of 2008, the ICC represents what generations of Kenyan leaders have failed to give the country—a check against impunity and disregard for the law.

Stability and peace are prerequisites for a successful business environment and if they are to prevail, impunity must be overcome and the rule of law deeply entrenched in the country.

Lasting peace and justice can only be achieved if past crimes are punished.

Justice in the aftermath of conflict is an important means to this end and the arrival of Ocampo should herald a new era for Kenya and Africa.

Kenya has all it needs to lead an economic renaissance in the continent if the rule of law is established and followed.

Kenya is not yet a lost cause; to the contrary, the country is ready to soar economically, all it needs to do is to put its house together.

Regardless of the events of late 2007 and early 2008, the country has numerous factors that favour its ascent.

It has an enviable human resource base with a good command of English, the lingua franca of business today.

In addition, unlike many emerging democracies, it is now taken for granted by Kenyans that a president can only lead for a maximum of two five year terms and no contemporary politician dare attempt to change the constitution to try and extend that limit as has been tried in other countries.

That is a good indicator that democracy is gaining ground in Kenya.

In its most recent report released in September this year, the Investment Climate Advisory Services (ICAS) department of the World Bank Group states that if localities in Kenya were to adopt the best practices already in place, Kenya would improve in all four areas of regulation that are a hindrance to doing business and rise 17 positions from its current global rank.

Kenya is currently ranked 95 out of 183 countries, which constitutes a drop of 11 position from its 2008 ranking.

But there are also numerous bottlenecks choking progress.

First among these is the need to hold everyone accountable for breaking the law no matter how powerful they maybe.