‘Wacha niongee initoke’ – Ruto’s senior economic advisor Moses Kuria exposes failures in trade ministry

President William Ruto’s Senior Advisor in the Council of Economic Advisors at State House, Moses Kuria has exposed some of the failures at the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) which he previously served as a Cabinet Secretary, before being reshuffled to the Public Service and subsequently fired following the widespread anti-government protests.

Taking to his official X account on the night of Saturday, December 21, 2024, Kuria hit out at his two successors, Rebecca Miano and Salim Mvurya, for what he claimed as trying the big shoes.

Moses Kuria on dead initiatives

He listed several initiatives at the ministry, which he says are now dead.

According to Kuria, Industrial Parks, Special Economic Zones, and Export Processing Zones which he initiated during his reign at MITI, have all died.

He further revealed that manufacturing has since gone down to six per cent of GDP, with Foreign Direct Investments now at the lowest in 20 years.

The former Gatundu South Member of Parliament (MP) went ahead to state that exports as a percentage of GDP is now at 10 percent, down from 28 percent.

Kuria now banks on the incoming MITI CS Lee Kinyanjui, whom he says he hopes he will make a difference.

“Wacha niongee initoke. 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%. After trying the big shoes by Rebecca Miano and Salim Mvurya, I hope @GovLeeKinyanjui will make a difference,” Moses Kuria stated.

Wacha niongee initoke. 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%. After trying the big shoes by Rebecca Miano and Salim…

— Hon.Moses Kuria,HSC (@HonMoses_Kuria) December 21, 2024

Lee Kinyanjui’s nomination

Lee Kinyanjui will now head the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, a strategic portfolio focused on boosting Kenya’s investment climate and trade relations, after he was nominated by President Ruto in his most recent Cabinet changes.

Salim Mvurya who was heading the ministry, has been moved to the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports.

Kuria’s controversies

Despite being on the government side, Moses Kuria is known for making controversial statements, some of which go against the government he serves.

When Catholic church clerics hit out at President Ruto recently, Kuria sided with them.

The clerics who constitute the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops held a presser on November 14, 2024, in which they took turns pointing out alleged maladministration by the president and his functionaries.

They spotlighted each docket and agency in government and flushed out their presumed inefficiencies.

While several state officers criticized them, Kuria said there was substance in the concerns raised by the Catholic clerics.

“My two rules as a Roman Catholic who has gone through the Catechism process from Baptism, Holy Eucharist, Altar Boy to confirmation (As Francis) by the late Michael Cardinal Otunga of Kibabii Rule Number 1- The Catholic Church is always right Rule Number 2- In case the Catholic Church is wrong refer to Rule Number 1,” Kuria stated.

My two rules as a Roman Catholic who has gone through the Catechism process from Baptism, Holy Eucharist, Altar Boy to confirmation (As Francis) by the late Michael Cardinal Otunga of Kibabii

Rule Number 1- The Catholic Church is always right

Rule Number 2- In case the…

— Hon.Moses Kuria,HSC (@HonMoses_Kuria) November 19, 2024