NAIROBI, Kenya Oct 7 – Outgoing Trade Cabinet Secretary, Moses Kuria, has shared a list of 12 accomplishments he achieved during his tenure in the position, as he prepares to transition to a new docket.
On October 4, 2023, President William Ruto made his first Cabinet reshuffle, resulting in the redeployment of Kuria from the Ministry of Trade to the Ministry of Public Service Performance and Delivery Management.
Having served in the Trade ministry for 11 months and six days, Kuria remarked, “With my head held high, I am now taking on new responsibilities.”
Kuria’s number one list of achievements in the shared list is overseeing the implementation of the Exports and Investments Promotion Levy to discourage unnecessary imports followed by the introduction of a pipeline of 26 Mega Deals from the Gulf Region and Indonesia.
Successfully negotiated Investment of Ksh 450 Billion from Afriexim Bank in E-Mobility, Special Economic Zones, and Export Processing Zones, successfully pushed Kenya’s joining of the Pan African Payment and Settlement System.
Additionally, finalizing the Economic Partnership Agreement with the Euroupean Union (EU) and meeting 12 African Heads of State to push for the unification of the East African Community (EAC), Southern African Development Community (SADC), and Common Market for Eastern Southern Africa (COMESA) under the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement close the top six achievements in Kuria’s list.
Kuria’s other achievements include hosting the African Continental Free Trade Area Trade Ministers Council twice in the same year.
– Kuria’s other achievements –
Kuria said he launched County Aggregation and Industrial Parks in 13 Azimio Counties, namely Mombasa, Garissa, Kisii, Nyamira, Kajiado, Migori, Siaya, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, and Trans Nzoia.
In addition to these, he initiated County Aggregation and Industrial Parks in 3 Kenya Kwanza Counties, which are Laikipia, Meru, and Bungoma.
Furthermore, Kuria kickstarted the procurement process for County Aggregation and Industrial Parks in all the remaining 31 Counties.
He also played a crucial role in initiating the implementation of a Warehouse Receipt System and Commodities Exchange, aimed at interconnecting the 47 CAIPS and linking them to Export Markets.
Lastly, Kuria said he was instrumental in the creation of a Kenya International Trade Agency, which seeks to establish Commercial Offices worldwide to promote Kenya’s exports independently of the bureaucracy associated with Kenya Embassies.
In his new docket, Kuria has since vowed to take decisive action against incompetent State Officers, which includes his fellow Cabinet Secretaries and the broader civil service.
