The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has long styled itself as the voice of the private sector, but ask any serious entrepreneur or business owner about its impact and you’ll likely be met with a shrug.

For an organisation that’s supposed to be at the forefront of advocating for commerce and industry, KNCCI has earned a reputation for being among the most invisible and ineffective lobbies in the country.

Compared with outfits like the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), which consistently engages government policy, shapes industrial discourse, and pushes for practical reforms, and the Kenya Private Sector Association, which is also a bit meek, KNCCI feels like a glorified PR outfit – one more interested in aligning itself with the political class than in actually defending the interests of business owners.

Chambers of commerce, by definition, are supposed to be strong, independent institutions that create platforms for business voices to be heard, especially when those voices contradict the government’s. They are meant to act as buffers between private interests and state shenanigans – bold enough to say “no” when public policy is out of touch with the economic reality on the ground.

In Kenya, however, the KNCCI has devolved into a ceremonial club. It’s difficult not to notice the convenient silences from the Chamber on critical economic issues. When new taxes are introduced overnight, when import restrictions threaten the flow of goods, when small businesses struggle under the weight of overregulation –  where is the KNCCI?

While KAM and other sector-specific lobbies roll up their sleeves and engage Parliament, filing petitions and rallying stakeholders, KNCCI is often posting pictures from gala dinners and courtesy calls.

Could it be that the Chamber is only a launchpad for political ambitions? It has become a place where some individuals go not to serve industry, but to sharpen their public profiles and curry favour with politicians. This blending of business advocacy with political opportunism is dangerous, because it means that real issues affecting the private sector – unfair trade policies, infrastructure bottlenecks, delayed payments from government contracts – are often ignored in favour of playing it safe with the political establishment.

But now, with a new CEO stepping in, hopefully this is an opportunity for a much required reset. This transition must not only be symbolic but has to be radical if the lobby intends to achieve what its membership and the economy requires from them.

While not much is known about the outgoing CEO, the new boss must re-establish the Chamber as a credible, outspoken, and fearless lobby that’s not afraid to challenge the State when necessary.

That requires building deeper relationships with businesses on the ground – not just the big corporations, but the SMEs and informal traders who make up the backbone of our economy. This will require crafting evidence-based policy positions and pushing them with urgency and clarity.

At a time when the economy needs the much needed reset, going to bed with the government is economic sabotage. That is why the lobby must step out of the shadow of government and speak truth to power, even if it costs political goodwill.

Further, my two cents is that there’s a digital age element that the new leadership must embrace. In a time when social media is a powerful tool for advocacy, the Chamber must modernise its engagement. There needs to be more visibility, more urgency, and less fluff. We want webinars that unpack the Finance Bill before it’s passed, not belated press statements. We want real-time feedback from members and direct action in response to real issues.

If the new CEO is serious, this could be the beginning of a new chapter. But if it’s more of the same, then we might as well shut it all down. Kenya doesn’t need another hollow institution. We already have too many of those. What we need is a Chamber that actually chambers – one that defends, advocates, pushes, and protects the lifeblood of Kenya’s economy.

— The writer is People Daily’s Business Editor