By Faith Mwende
Former Trade and Investment Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has spoken out on the second anniversary of his exit from government, expressing frustration over what he calls the collapse of Kenya’s once-promising industrialisation agenda.
In a statement shared on X this Saturday, Kuria revisited his time in the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, recalling the ambitious plans he spearheaded to turn Kenya into a magnet for investors and job creation.
“I had huge dreams for our country,” he wrote. “I dreamt of rapid industrialisation. I launched County Aggregation and Industrial Parks. I launched many Special Economic Zones and Export Processing Zones. I led huge efforts in bilateral trade and regional integration.”
Kuria said his goal was to empower Gen Z through large-scale investment and manufacturing initiatives that would generate millions of jobs. However, he lamented that the momentum behind that vision has since faded.
“Looking back at the last two years, I am disappointed that this dream has been extinguished,” he stated. “But I refuse to give up on Kenya. We still have a great country with immense potential.”
His remarks come amid continued speculation about his political journey, which saw him appointed to several key government positions before being dropped from the Cabinet in July 2024, during a major reshuffle by President William Ruto. The move followed widespread Gen Z-led protests against the government.
Kuria, who began his Cabinet career in the Trade and Investment docket, was later reassigned to the Public Service Ministry before being replaced by Rebecca Miano, who has since moved to Tourism and Wildlife.
After his Cabinet exit, Kuria briefly joined the Council of Economic Advisers at State House but resigned on July 9, 2025, citing disagreement with the government’s handling of the Saba Saba protests.
He maintained that his resignation was voluntary and that President Ruto respected his decision, though he described it as unfortunate.
Once a staunch ally of Ruto and a vocal defender of the Kenya Kwanza administration, Kuria revealed that he was never given a reason for his Cabinet removal and never sought one. “Why would I be entitled to ask why I was removed as CS? Did I speak to him when he appointed me?” he posed.
As he marks two years since leaving the Trade Ministry, Kuria remains both reflective and hopeful acknowledging the setbacks but reaffirming his belief in Kenya’s potential.
“The dream may have dimmed,” he said, “but it’s not dead.”
