The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) has earned another feather after being named this year's winner of the African Infrastructure Regulator of the Year Award. Africa Investor declared CCK the winner of the award last Wednesday in Cape Town, South Africa, at a ceremony patronized by venture capitalists, developers, and infrastructure experts and policy makers.  The Kenya High Commission to South Africa received the award on behalf of CCK, who also celebrated their 10th anniversary this year. CCK beat its counterparts Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and South Africa's Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to win the Award. ICASA and NCC had been shortlisted alongside CCK for the award.  Nomination for this and other categories of Africa Investor awards are done by third parties without reference to the nominee organizations.

Africa Investor is a specialist investment communications group based in South Africa that advises governments, international organizations and businesses on communications strategies for capital markets and foreign direct investment in Africa.

CCK won the award on the basis of inclusion of measures to adopt Public Private Partnership (PPP) regulation in poverty eradication and economic growth policies, and commitment to building capacity within government or business community to promote and implement improved infrastructure investment climate.

CCK?s promotion of private sector views in the development of policy and a dialogue between government and business was cited in the nomination for the award.

Presenting the awards, Africa Investor?s Vice Chairman Hubert Danso said “through infrastructure investment, the private sector operating in Africa has established itself as a critical development partner. Africa Investor is therefore delighted to recognize both the public and private sector partners in the forefront of projects impacting the attainment of MDGs in Africa, while at the same time, delivering returns for their investors.”

Other award category winners included Africa Development Bank, Sponsor of the Year Award, and the Industrial Development Corporation, which won the award for Developer of the Year.

The Power Deal of the Year award went to Exxaro, while Nedbank Capital took Transport Deal of the Year Award, and Rand Merchant Bank led the way with Social Infrastructure Deal of the Year.

CCK Director General Charles Njoroge, welcomed the award which he attributed to the Commission's policy of all inclusive consultations before making any major decision that affects the industry. “We are delighted with the award, which goes to show that our efforts to promote an excellent and stable investment climate in communications industry in the country are being noted as progressive and exceptional”, Mr. Njoroge said.

He called on investors in the Information and Communications Technology industry to take advantage of the stable regulatory climate and improved infrastructure to set up businesses in the country. “The country?s broadband infrastructure offers investors tremendous opportunities for their businesses and we expect to see more investments in all facets of the economy that will be driven by the available reliable connectivity,” he said.