It's time for constitutional reforms, says former CS Moses Kuria

Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria on Monday said that Kenya is now ripe for constitutional reforms, almost 14 years after the current constitution was promulgated on August 27, 2010.

Speaking on Citizen TV, Kuria said the Constitution has several elements that were hastily added, hence the need for changes.

He revealed that he was involved in the making of the Constitution, having been in charge of former president Mwai Kibaki’s communication team during the process of making the Constitution.

He said some provisions in the Constitution were included because the country was then emerging from a troubled time, and it is now time to revisit them.

He cited the commissions formed from the provisions of the Constitution, saying that they should be reduced.

“Part of the biggest duplication we have in government is this issue of independent commissions and offices. I think the bulk of them should go,” he said.

Kuria added that counties also need to be reviewed.

“Counties also need to be fixed. Our counties are uneconomical," he said.

Lead a quiet life

At the same time, the former Gatundu South MP revealed that after leaving the Cabinet, he now plans to lead a quiet, private life.

"I really want to lead a private life. I consider this interview to be my exit interview; this is my last interview. Even as I retreat to my private life, one of the things I will give my voice and energy to is the reform of this Constitution," he said.

Kuria's political journey started in 2007 when Kibaki invited him to serve as a consultant in his government, providing insights into trade matters.

He initially joined Kibaki's PNU party as a spokesman and director of programmes before aligning with former president Uhuru Kenyatta, then the leader of the Kanu, in 2008.

Kuria later joined The National Alliance Party (TNA) in 2013 as the director of strategy.

In 2014, he was elected Gatundu South MP in a by-election occasioned by the death of former MP Jossy Ngugi. He was re-elected in 2017 on the Jubilee party ticket.

In 2022, Kuria unsuccessfully vied for the Kiambu governorship on his Chama Cha Kazi party. He lost the race to UDA’s Kimani Wamatangi and conceded defeat, stating that he would pursue a different course in the private sector.

When President William Ruto was naming his first Cabinet in September 2022, Kuria was picked to head the Trade Ministry where he served until last year when he was moved to the Ministry of Public Service where he served until last month when the president dismissed his entire Cabinet following the Gen Z protests that pushed Ruto to make reforms in his government.

Kuria was not reappointed into the new Cabinet that roped in members of the opposition.