Moses Kuria

Moses Kiarie Kuria
Moses Kuria in 2023
Member of Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office
2007
ConstituencyGatundu South
Personal details
Born1971 (age 54–55)
Party
Education
  • University of Nairobi (undergraduate)
  • Ituru Secondary Sch.
  • Githuya Primary Sch.
Occupation
  • 2009 - Manager of Bs. Process, Al Rajhi Bank, Saudi Arab
  • 2007 - Chief Operating Officer, Wamad Info. Services, Dubai
  • 1995 - Head of Bs. Process, Afr., STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
  • 1994 - Auditor, Family Finance and Building Society

Moses Kiarie Kuria is a Kenyan politician and the former Cabinet Secretary (CS) for public service, performance and delivery management. He was appointed by President William Ruto and successfully vetted by the 13th Parliament of Kenya. He was sworn in on 27 October 2022 as the new CS for Investments, Trade and Industry, replacing Betty Maina.

Political career

Kuria is an admirer of former President Kibaki. He attributes his admiration for politics to the former president. His political journey started when he joined Kibaki's team through Uhuru Kenyatta's Kanu Party.

Following the death of then-member of parliament (MP) for Gatundu South, Hon. Jossy Ngugi, Kuria was elected unopposed as the new MP in 2014 on The National Alliance (TNA) party. He was re-elected as an MP during the 2017 general elections to serve for a 5-year parliamentary term, running until 2022 on the Jubilee Party.

In 2021, he founded a new party, Chama Cha Kazi. He was succeeded by Gabriel Kagombe in the 2022 General Election.

During the 2022 general elections, he unsuccessfully vied for governor of Kiambu county. He lost the race to Kimani Wamatangi and conceded defeat, stating that he would proceed to pursue a different course in the private sector. On 27 September 2022, he was appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry.

In the October 2023 reshuffle, he was moved to the public service portfolio and was replaced as trade minister by Rebecca Miano.

Controversy

Hate speech

Kuria's political career has been marred by controversy. He has been incarcerated several times and charged with hate speech. His ravaging attacks on Kenya's opposition have created a schism among political protagonists; while the opponents feel that Kuria is a "loose cannon" who is poised to incite his community against others, his proponents believe that he is an ardent defender of their interests in the political arena.

In 2015, Kuria threatened to sexually assault Millie Odhiambo on social media after Odhiambo criticized President Kenyatta. Kuria said he would force a broken glass bottle into Mabona's vagina.

Bribery

In 2021, Kuria admitted to taking a $1,000 dollar bribe to support the leadership bid of Amos Kimunya.

Edible oil scandal

In 2023, Kuria, who was then Trade and Investments Cabinet Secretary, was under fire after the auditor general reported that Kenya lost 6 billion shillings in the edible oil importation scandal. Kuria was questioned on how his ministry handled the importation and how private companies with affiliations to local politicians and government officials were involved in the deal. He defended himself against any wrongdoing, terming the importation a necessary measure in the government's mandate to tackle the rising cost of living.

References

  1. ↑ "Moses Kuria appointed Trade and Industry CS". The Star. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  2. ↑ "Kenya: CS Moses Kuria Takes Over Office From Maina". allAfrica.com. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  3. ↑ "Moses Kiarie Kuria · Mzalendo". bungemeter.mzalendo.com. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "Moses Kuria Biography, Education, Tweets and Contacts". Softkenya.com. 3 August 2015. Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  5. ↑ Wanambisi, Laban (1 August 2014). "Moses Kuria unopposed as challenger pulls out". Capital News. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  6. ↑ Wanambisi, Laban (2 August 2014). "IEBC to declare Moses Kuria Gatundu South MP". Capital News. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  7. ↑ "Moses Kuria".
  8. ↑ Nyambura, Eva (5 August 2021). "Moses Kuria Unveils New Party "Chama cha Kazi" Following PEP Ouster". KahawaTungu. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  9. ↑ Mueni, Jemimah (11 August 2022). "UDA's Kagombe clinches Gatundu South MP seat » Capital News". Capital News. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  10. ↑ "Moses Kuria concedes defeat in Kiambu governor race". The Star. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  11. ↑ "'Back to private sector,' Moses Kuria concedes defeat in Kiambu Governor race". Citizen Digital. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  12. ↑ Mueni, Jemimah (10 August 2022). "Kenya: Moses Kuria Concedes Defeat in Kiambu Governor Race Before Final Winner Is Declared". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  13. ↑ "Moses Kuria appointed Trade and Industry CS". The Star. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  14. ↑ "Kenya: CS Moses Kuria Takes Over Office From Maina". allAfrica.com. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  15. ↑ "Kenya's Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua demoted in Ruto cabinet reshuffle". BBC News. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  16. ↑ "Moses Kuria arrested over Raila hate speech". Nairobi News. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  17. ↑ Cherono, Stells (2017). "Moses Kuria, Muthama arrested over hate speech claims". Daily Nation.
  18. ↑ Shahbal, Suleiman. "Is Moses Kuria Clinically Insane?". The Standard. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  19. ↑ Nyabola, Nanjala. "Kenyan Feminisms in the Digital Age". Women's Studies Quarterly. 46 (3). The Feminist Press at the City University of New York: 261–272. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  20. ↑ "Kenya MP Moses Kuria admits taking $1,000 parliamentary bribe". BBC News. 13 May 2021.
  21. ↑ "EXPOSED: How Kenya Lost Over Ksh 6 Billion in Edible Oil Scandal". Kenya Times. 9 October 2024.
  22. ↑ "List of 10 Companies Linked to KSh 25 Billion Cooking Oil Scandal". TUKO. 4 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "Edible oil scam: CS Kuria says importations were done to protect Kenyans from cartels". Citizen Digital. 20 June 2023.