Senior Advisor in President William Ruto’s Council of Economic Advisors Moses Kuria has revealed areas where the government has failed.
In a statement on Saturday, December 21, Kuria said the Investments, Trade, and Industry ministry has failed ever since he left the docket.
Kuria said Industrial Parks, Special Economic Zones and Export Processing Zones after he handed over the ministry.
“Industrial Parks Dead. Special Economic Zones Dead. Export Processing Zones Dead. Manufacturing down to 6% of GDP. Foreign Direct Investments lowest in 20 years. Exports as % of GDP 10% down from 28%,” Kuria said.
He stated that CS Rebecca Miano and Salim Mvurya could not step into his position.
Kuria is hopeful that Trade CS nominee Lee Kinyajui will make things work.
“After trying the big shoes by Rebecca Miano and Salim Mvurya, I hope Lee Kinyajui will make a difference,” he said.
Changes in Trade Ministry Since Ruto Took Over
President Ruto reshuffled his cabinet in October 2023, moving Kuria to the Ministry of Public Service.
Miano joined Ruto’s Cabinet in 2022 as the CS for East Africa Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development.
In August 2024, Ruto disbanded the cabinet and announced a new broad-based one, moving Miano to the Ministry of Tourism.
She was replaced by Mvurya who was previously serving as CS for Mining and Blue Economy.
While taking over, he committed to address constraints which have contributed towards the country’s decline in manufacturing over the last decade.
However, in the latest reshuffle on December 19, Ruto nominated the former Nakuru Governor as Trade CS.
Mvurya was moved to the Ministry of Sports to succeed Kipchumba Murkomen, who took over the Ministry of Interior.
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Kuria on 4 Important Issues
This came after Kuria listed four issues Kenyans and the government cannot afford to play with.
“There are 4 things we cannot play around with as Kenyans,” he said.
One of the issues he raised is the general elections conducted after every five years.
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Kuria said people should also prioritize peaceful and orderly transition from one administration to the other.
The other issue is the Kenya Population and Housing Census (KPHC) done every 10 years.
Besides, Kuria mentioned the Boundaries Review done by the IEBC
“The rest we can disagree but the above 4 are sacrosanct. 2025 is the year of Boundary Review. Na sio tadadhali (It’s not a request),” he said.
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