KAM appoints Hitesh Mediratta as new Board Chair to steer manufacturing competitiveness

KENYA – The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has appointed Hitesh Mediratta, Managing Director of PG Bison Kenya Ltd, as the new Chairperson of its Board, succeeding Jane Karuku, whose term has come to an end.

The leadership transition comes as Kenya’s manufacturing sector seeks to enhance its competitiveness, accelerate value addition and strengthen its contribution to the country’s industrialization agenda.

In his inaugural address, Mediratta pledged to build on KAM’s advocacy efforts by creating a more competitive operating environment for manufacturers while addressing policy and taxation challenges affecting the sector.

“It is a great honour to serve as Chairperson of the KAM Board. Having served on the KAM Board since June 2020 and as Vice Chair over the last two years, I have witnessed the resilience and innovation of Kenya’s manufacturing sector,” he said.

“My priority will be to build on KAM’s strong legacy of advocacy by creating a level playing field that enhances the competitiveness of Kenyan manufacturers, both locally and globally.

“We will continue to champion equitable value chains where all manufacturers have an opportunity to compete, grow and thrive, while advancing practical, evidence-based solutions to longstanding policy and tax challenges.”

Mediratta has led PG Bison Kenya for more than two decades and has held several leadership positions within KAM, including Chairperson of the Timber and Furniture Sector, Vice Chair of the Trade and Tax Board Committee and Board Director since 2020.

Throughout his tenure, he has advocated for value chain-driven policy reforms aimed at strengthening Kenya’s manufacturing ecosystem and promoting sustainable industrial growth.

Outgoing Chairperson Jane Karuku, Group Managing Director of East African Breweries PLC (EABL), will remain an Ex-Officio member of the KAM Board, providing strategic guidance to the Association.

Reflecting on her tenure, Karuku highlighted four strategic priorities that shaped the Association’s agenda: global competitiveness, agriculture for industry, export-led growth, and small and medium enterprise (SME) development.

She emphasized that value addition remains one of Kenya’s greatest industrial opportunities.

“The opportunity that is there is for us to add value, so that we export more finished goods and not just raw materials. There is so much potential in value addition and in using our local raw materials to grow manufacturing in this country,” she said.

KAM also announced the appointment of Mary-Ann Musangi, Managing Director of Haco Industries Kenya Ltd, as Board Vice Chairperson. Musangi currently chairs KAM’s Women in Manufacturing (WIM) Programme, where she has championed initiatives promoting women’s leadership, mentorship, skills development and increased participation in Kenya’s manufacturing sector.

The appointments come at a time when Kenya is intensifying efforts to increase manufacturing’s contribution to gross domestic product through industrialization, export diversification and local value addition.

Industry stakeholders continue to advocate for predictable tax policies, lower production costs, improved infrastructure and stronger regional market integration to enhance the global competitiveness of Kenyan manufacturers.

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