Moses Kuria Reflects on Kenya’s Stalled Industrialisation Vision Two Years After Leaving Office

Former Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has voiced disappointment over what he described as Kenya’s “lost industrial dream,” two years after leaving government.

In a reflective post shared on X on Friday, Kuria said his tenure at the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry had been guided by an ambitious vision to transform Kenya into a manufacturing and trade powerhouse.

“Two years ago, I left the Ministry with huge dreams for our country. I dreamt of rapid industrialisation,” Kuria wrote. “I launched County Aggregation and Industrial Parks, Special Economic Zones, and Export Processing Zones.”

Kuria said the initiatives he spearheaded were designed to make Kenya a regional hub for production, investment, and employment. 

He noted that bilateral trade agreements and regional partnerships had been central to his strategy of attracting foreign direct investment and creating opportunities for the youth through Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).

However, he lamented that most of these plans have since stalled, saying the momentum that once existed has faded.

“Looking back at the last two years, I am disappointed that this dream has been extinguished,” he said.