Trade CS nominee defends his criticism of Kenya Kwanza

Trade CS nominee Lee Kinyanjui during his vetting in Parliament on January 14, 2025/ENOS TECHE

Investments, Trade and Industry CS nominee Lee Kinyanjui has come out to defend his past criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Speaking when he appeared before the Committee on Appointments for approval hearings, Kinyanjui termed his critique of President William Ruto’s administration as “positive criticism.”

“I have used my knowledge to be critical of the administration. There is a difference of being critical of policies and being critical of a government. If, for example, we say pending bills are affecting business, that is not an affront to the government. It is a plea from the business community to ease cash flows,” he explained.

“If we say taxation beyond a certain point can stifle growth, that is positive criticism such that if you take it, everybody is a winner.”

Kinyanjui was responding to a question from Belgut MP Nelson Koech, who wondered how he would work for a government he has been heavily criticising.

“How will you work with the same administration that you criticized?” Koech asked.

Kinyanjui said it was important for those in leadership positions to embrace positive criticism.

“When you are in the office, including myself, I cannot be the only one with ideas. There will be people out there with better ideas. It is important that we give them that avenue and if they have better ideas, listen to them,” he stated

The Investments CS nominee said patriotic citizens should speak out whenever they feel something is not right.

Kinyanjui told MPs he resigned from the Ubuntu People’s Forum immediately; he was nominated to the position.

“I have resigned from the Ubuntu party, but my heart is very connected to its philosophy of ‘I am because you are’,” he added.

Kinyanjui contested for the Nakuru governor position on a Jubilee ticket and lost to UDA’s Susan Kihika.

He then went on to form his own political outfit, the Ubuntu People's Forum.