Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has lauded Moses Kuria, a senior economic advisor to President William Ruto, as one of the most brilliant leaders from the Mt. Kenya region. Gachagua made these remarks during an interview on Monday night, highlighting Kuria’s innovative contributions while serving as Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry.
According to Gachagua, one of Kuria’s most significant achievements was the initiation of the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) project, a visionary idea aimed at enhancing economic development at the county level. However, the project stalled after Kuria was removed from his ministerial role and eventually dismissed from the Cabinet. Gachagua expressed regret over Kuria’s removal, suggesting that had the President allowed Kuria to continue in the ministry, CAIPs would have been fully operational by now.
“Moses Kuria is one of our brightest leaders from the Mt. Kenya region, and today he is facing challenges. When Moses Kuria was Minister for Trade, he was the one who started the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks, a brilliant idea. Since they removed him, that project is stuck,” Gachagua remarked on KTN.
The former Deputy President also criticized President Ruto for dismissing Kuria, suggesting that the failure to allow him to stay in the ministry directly impacted the progress of CAIPs. Gachagua maintained that had Kuria remained in office, the economic project would have contributed significantly to the region’s industrial growth.
However, Kuria has publicly pointed fingers at Gachagua for his downfall, accusing the former Deputy President of not being patient enough to resolve their differences. Kuria argued that Gachagua should have waited for a few years before expressing disagreement with the President, acknowledging that challenges in both business and governance are inevitable. Despite their differences, Kuria affirmed that Gachagua remains his friend, emphasizing that he never supported calls for his impeachment.
Kuria’s remarks indicate a complex relationship between the two leaders, with each holding differing views on their roles and the unfolding political dynamics in Mt. Kenya.
