Trade CS nominee Mvurya defends work ethic amid claims of laziness

Cabinet Secretary (CS) nominee Salim Mvurya was forced to defend his work ethic after facing claims of laziness during vetting.

Appearing before the Committee on Appointments on Saturday, August 3, 2024, the Investments, Trade and Industry CS nominee was confronted with claims that he is a desk minister.

Pokot South Member of Parliament (MP) David Pkosing claimed that Mvurya preferred to work from his desk during his tenure at the ministry of Mining and Blue Economy.

“Many Kenyans think or say you are a desk minister, you only sit on your desk and run your ministry from your desk,” Pkosing said.

Adding that; “And one of the evidence they are giving is that where you were as minister for mining, many mineral or mining counties, and for example West Pokot county is seriously a mineral county, if you ask anybody from West Pokot who is Mvurya they will be thinking you are actually a governor of Kwale.”

The Pokot South MP sought to ascertain whether Mvurya would continue this perceived pattern if confirmed as Trade CS.

“Now you are going to a ministry which is also very important which is industries and all counties are going the bottom-up, they are going to be maybe industrial centres, are you also going to run a ministry from the desk where you were in minerals?” Pkosing inquired.

In a rebuttal, Mvurya stressed that he is not a desk minister.

The Trade CS nominee highlighted his numerous accomplishments and field visits while serving in the Mining and Blue Economy docket.

“I want to confirm that I am not a desk minister. I was in West Pokot because of the clinkerization program the 45 billion. I was in Githiuri with mheshimiwa here confirmed and many other places across the country including Kathunzweni in Makueni, Mulukoba in Busia and many others.

Mvurya continued, “I was also in Kamuket and Katigit, Kambi ya Samaki… And I can give you examples many of them but I think we also acknowledge that our country is very big and you cannot be there at the right time.”

The Trade CS nominee’s defence was aimed at reassuring the committee and the public of his commitment to active field engagement and effective leadership if confirmed to his new role.