Trade CS Nominee Struggles To Answer Work Ethic As Laziness Allegations Emerge
Salim Mvurya, a Cabinet Secretary (CS) nominee, was forced to defend his work ethic after being accused of laziness during vetting.
During his appearance before the Committee on Appointments on Saturday, August 3, 2024, the Investments, Trade, and Industry CS nominee was confronted with allegations that he is a desk minister.
David Pkosing, a Pokot South Member of Parliament (MP), claimed that Mvurya preferred to work from his desk while at the Ministry of Mining and Blue Economy.
Trade Cabinet Secretary nominee Salim Mvurya has strongly denied claims suggesting he was merely a ‘desk minister’ during his two-year reign at Blue Economy docket.
— TheStarKenya (@TheStarKenya) August 3, 2024
Pokot South MP David Pkosing raised the issue during the vetting process, suggesting that some Kenyans perceive… pic.twitter.com/ORIvwcbQcm
“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 wanted to know if 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.
Salim Mvurya, CS Nominee for Trade pic.twitter.com/UUu2W32Cek
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) August 3, 2024
In rebuttal, Mvurya emphasized that he is not a desk minister.
The Trade CS nominee highlighted his numerous accomplishments and field visits while working on 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,” Mvurya defended.
“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 defense was intended to reassure the committee and the public about his commitment to active field engagement and effective leadership if confirmed in his new position.
Trade CS Nominee Struggles To Answer Work Ethic As Laziness Allegations Emerge
