Senior Economic Adviser and former Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has finally commented on the nomination of former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui to his former docket.
Taking to his X account, Kuria addressed the country’s economic decline, expressing hope that the former Governor would revitalise the ministry.
“Let me speak my mind. Industrial Parks: Dead. Special Economic Zones: Dead. Export Processing Zones: Dead. Manufacturing down to 6% of GDP. Foreign Direct Investments at their lowest in 20 years. Exports as a percentage of GDP have dropped from 28% to 10%,” he wrote.
“After the efforts of Rebecca Miano and Salim Mvurya, I hope Lee Kinyanjui will make a difference.”
Former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui at an interview.
KNA
Kinyanjui was nominated by President William Ruto on Thursday, 19 October, to replace Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, who was reassigned to the Ministry of Sports.
When the Kenya Kwanza Government assumed office in 2022, Kuria unsuccessfully ran for the Kiambu gubernatorial seat. After conceding defeat, he was nominated and subsequently appointed to the Trade Ministry, where he served for a year before being reassigned to the Public Service sector during the October 2023 reshuffle.
Rebecca Miano and, more recently, Salim Mvurya took over the docket, which Kuria, in his statement, criticised for a lack of significant progress.
The ministry has faced challenges, particularly as multinational companies have exited the Kenyan market, citing increased taxation and economic uncertainty.
Despite Kuria’s assertion that the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are defunct, Tatu City was recently designated as the Regional Office and National Contact Point for the World Free Zones Organization.
The CEO of the World Free Zones Organization, Dr Samir Hamrouni, praised the smart city, stating, “Tatu City has demonstrated the capacity to represent Kenya and the region effectively and support the World Free Zones Organization’s global vision of fostering economic growth and innovation through free zones.”
As the Regional Office, Tatu City will oversee membership expansion, regional activities, and World Free Zones Organization initiatives, while also elevating African SEZs globally.
Signposts indicating the entrance to Tatu City
Photo
Tatu City