EDITORIAL: Kenya, US trade deals a boost for the economy

Therefore, the 12 deals worth more than Sh10 billion signed during an official visit by 60 US business executives last week could not have come at an opportune time.

Most of the deals were penned during an economic summit that was held in Nairobi by the American Chamber of Commerce.

There have been fears around the world about US President Donald Trump’s trade initiatives, which ave been lampooned for being too protectionist to the detriment of global trade.

It was therefore a welcome relief to hear diplomats praising the Nairobi deals as step that shows the Trump’s administration’s economic agenda for Africa.

We must, however, reiterate that Kenya needs to build on these positive developments to spur its economy. In order to woo international investors, the government must not only ensure that there are no barriers to trade but should also show that its committed to the war against corruption. No investor would want to put their money in an environment that is full of risks.

READ: US firms ink Sh10bn deals with Kenyan companies

The Jubilee government pledged to create a transparent and accountable business operating environment for investors. The ball is now in our court to prove that we are committed to taking the local economy to the next level.

The head of the American delegation was quoted as saying that the investors were keen on East Africa’s roads, energy and financial services sectors. In order to have a robust economy there must be structures in place that support the same.

As the top regional economy, Kenya has an opportunity to not only better its own sectors but also those of other East African Community member states.