TRADE CS MOSES KURIA | PHOTO COURTESY
Trade Cabinet Secretary Kuria’s Absence from Key United States – Kenya Trade Event Raises Questions Once Again
Once more, Trade Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kuria has missed a crucial trade event involving the United States and Kenya, intensifying concerns about his absence from US trade affairs. This recurrence marks not the first instance of his conspicuous absence. On a prior occasion, on July 19, Kuria was notably absent from a trade discussion between Kenya and the US, where Katherine Tai, the US Trade Representative, led a delegation from the North American nation.
During a subsequent press briefing following the talks, Tai left journalists with the question of why Kuria was not part of the meeting, fueling speculations that his past remarks may have played a role in his exclusion. Kuria, in his capacity as CS, has actively engaged with foreign nations and corporations in trade negotiations, often announcing these engagements on his social media platforms. However, his absence from US-led deliberations remains unexplained by the Kenyan government.
Among the current serving CSs, Kuria stands out as one of the most frequent travelers, at times asserting that he represents the President in securing favorable deals to bolster local manufacturing in Kenya. His outspoken nature and occasional controversial statements have been known to ruffle feathers among certain sections of the Kenyan populace, potentially causing friction with the United States.
It is worth noting that the US represents one of Kenya’s major export markets, with goods produced in the country’s leading Export Processing Zones (EPZs), particularly garments, constituting a significant portion of exports to the world’s largest economy.
Kuria’s exclusion from these important trade events also occurs at a critical juncture when Kenya is negotiating a free-trade agreement with the US in anticipation of the expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) in 2025.