Senior Advisor in President William Ruto’s Council of Economic Advisors, Moses Kuria, has outlined areas where he believes the government has failed in recent years.
In a statement on Saturday, December 21, Kuria criticized the performance of the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry since his departure. He claimed that key initiatives, including Industrial Parks, Special Economic Zones, and Export Processing Zones, have stagnated.
“Industrial Parks Dead. Special Economic Zones Dead. Export Processing Zones Dead. Manufacturing down to 6 per cent of GDP. Foreign Direct Investments at the lowest in 20 years. Exports as a percentage of GDP have dropped to 10 per cent from 28 per cent” Kuria stated.
Kuria suggested that current Cabinet Secretaries Rebecca Miano and Salim Mvurya struggled to fill his shoes. However, he expressed optimism that Trade CS nominee Lee Kinyanjui might turn the tide.
“After attempts by Rebecca Miano and Salim Mvurya to manage the docket, I hope Lee Kinyanjui will make a difference,” Kuria said.
Changes in the Trade Ministry Since Ruto Took Office
President Ruto reshuffled his Cabinet in October 2023, moving Kuria to the Ministry of Public Service. Rebecca Miano, initially serving as CS for East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands, and Regional Development, joined Ruto’s Cabinet in 2022.
In August 2024, Ruto restructured his Cabinet, moving Miano to the Ministry of Tourism. Salim Mvurya, who replaced her, was tasked with revitalizing the country’s manufacturing sector. However, during the December 19 reshuffle, Mvurya was moved to the Ministry of Sports, with former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui nominated as the new Trade CS.
While taking over, Mvurya had committed to addressing constraints contributing to the decline of the manufacturing sector over the last decade.
Kuria’s Warning on Key National Issues
In his remarks, Kuria also highlighted four critical areas he believes Kenyans and the government cannot afford to mishandle:
- The general elections conducted every five years.
- The Kenya Population and Housing Census (KPHC) conducted every 10 years.
- The Boundaries Review by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
- The smooth transition from one administration to another.
“The rest we can disagree on, but the above four are sacrosanct. 2025 is the year of Boundary Review. Na sio tadadhali (It’s not a request),” Kuria emphasized.
