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Lee Kinyanjui: I didn't push Nakuru street children to Embobut Forest

The Trade CS nominee in his defence said the assertions were by his political rivals

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by MOSES ODHIAMBO

Realtime14 January 2025 - 20:06
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In Summary


    • The MPs also pressed Kinyanjui on why the manufacturing sector is stagnant and what measures he intends to put in place to improve the situation.
    • MPs also demanded to know how he'd deal with the influx of counterfeit goods. On the struggling industries, the CS nominee said energy is key to driving industrialisation.

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


Trade Cabient Secretary nominee Lee Kinyanjui had dismissed claims he carted Nakuru street children to Embobut Forest.

The former governor, when facing MPs vetting him for the post President William Ruto appointed him to, said the allegation was peddled by his rivals.

The question emerged when Lee appeared before the Speaker Moses Wetang'ula-led Committee on Appointments.

It was alleged that the nominee, when serving as Nakuru governor, pushed the urchins away in efforts to clean the city.

"Did you dump Nakuru City street children in Embobut Forest?" It was alleged that some were never found," Wetang'ula said.

The former governor, in his defence said the assertions were by his political rivals.

"I have my conscience right and I cannot do that. Those who were making the claims have never said even one name," Kinyanjui said.

He said no family has come forward to claim that their child is missing. The CS nominee said that as governor, be made contributions, which saw Nakuru elevated to a city and hailed as the most business-friendly.

This was even as MPs pressed him hard on why the manufacturing sector is stagnant and what measures he intends to put in place to improve the situation.

MPs also demanded to know how he'd deal with the influx of counterfeit goods. On the struggling industries, the CS nominee said energy is key to driving industrialisation.

"We need to look at the elephant in the room—the power purchasing agreements that have strained our energy spending. We also need to relook trade agreements and protectionism policies," Kinyanjui said.

He said the government also needed to find a way to aid struggling manufacturers.

"We have not been able to aid our factories when they are in problems hence they opt for closure when we can help them get back to their feet," he said.

The Trade CS nominee was also asked about his plans towards harmonisation of government policy and what happens in practice. MPs also sought to know his plans for special economic zones, whether they are working.

"Why not develop an economic niche targeting the industries in every region?" Pokot South MP David Pkosing asked.

MPs also put Kinyanjui to task on his critic of the Ruto administration and its policies.

"How will you work with this team?" Belgut MP Nelson Koech asked. On this, Kinyanjui said, "It is not wrong to criticise government policy, it is different from criticism of an administration."

On economic zones, he said it should be in sync with the regions, adding that he would look at how to empower regions to become examples.

He urged MPs to always assess the impact of laws and legislation Parliament enacts.

"We need to harmonise our approach to policy. I will get a team to assess the impact of the policies on the manufacturing sector," Kinyanjui said.

He said he'd work on giving investors stability as Kebs is empowered to ensure standards. MPs also sought the nominees word on returning the country to the 20 years ago when it was a leader of manufacturing.

Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah said it was unimaginable that Uganda's manufacturing is 15 per cent of gross domestic product while Kenya's is at 7 per cent.

"How will you get us back to this position?" Ichung'wah asked.

North Imenti MP Rahim Dawood asked, "How will you help our investors?" In his response, Kinyanjui said while manufacturing may have taken a nosedive, the economy has diversified and is doing good in geothermal, flower business, Fintech, and banking.

The CS nominee said he'd lead reviews on the cost of energy and agreements that allow flooding of goods, as well as taxation.

"Financial challenges are also here. Interest rates are high, and we don't have banks aligned to industries."

"Tax laws and policies should give industry time. Some of the drastic decisions will send our industries to the gallow. Extinguishing them exposes us adversely," he said.

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