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Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi yesterday said he would revive policies that stirred economic growth during President Mwai Kibaki’s tenure if he is elected president next year. 

Addressing businesspeople from Nyeri county on Tuesday, he said Kenya’s best economic potential was demonstrated by Kibaki’s regime through sound policies that enabled businesses and investments to thrive. 

He heaped praises on the Kibaki administration, saying tax collection doubled while local and international business reached a level never witnessed before. 

“I will start by achieving optimum tax collection levels and curbing wastage of public resources. This is the first step to return our economy on track,” Muturi said.

“I will tame wastage which is rampant. Over Sh400 billion is lost through procurement deals, over Sh300 billion is lost through tax scams. We must bring this to an end.”

Muturi said he would offer a conducive environment for doing business by removing bottlenecks.

He would also seek to revive cash crops and the entire agriculture sector. “Our coffee, tea, horticulture, dairy and other agricultural sub-sectors are struggling instead of thriving. We must return this nation to its full economic potential.”

Recounting some of the policies that unlocked the potential of businesses, Muturi recalled the policy to stop local borrowing by the government.

“This left the banks with no option but to offer cheap, unsecured loans and other services to business people and ordinary Kenyans. I will revive such a policy immediately when I am elected.”

In the last few weeks, Muturi, who has been endorsed by the Democratic Party as its presidential candidate, has been touring various parts of the country to sell his agenda.