Moses Kuria: Accountant Turned Politician, Trade CS

Early Life and Education

Moses Kuria was born in a rural area in Kiambu County in 1971 and attended Githuya Primary School in Gatundu, where he completed his primary education in 1983.

He continued his secondary school at Ituru Secondary School, where he completed his exams in 1987.

Kuria was later accepted to the University of Nairobi, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce in 1993.

He was the treasurer of the Students Organisation of Nairobi University (SONU), which earned him a place in the world of politics.

Family

The firebrand MP is married to Joyce Njambi with whom he shares two children.

He and Njambi met in Saudi Arabia.

The legislator is the fifth born in a family of nine.

Professional Career

Kuria has worked as an auditor, accountant, and banker from 1994. He started as an auditor at a firm and ended up as the head of business process re-engineering, Africa, at Standard Chartered Bank in 1995.

He had his career’s highs and lows while at Standard Chartered Bank, with the pinnacle being in 1997 when he pioneered the bank’s hubbing procedure.

However, he missed out on a chance to become the bank’s head of operations in 1999, which was grabbed by Jeremy Awori, who is now the CEO of Absa Kenya then known as Barclays Bank.

In late 1999, he left Kenya for a job with Al Rajhi Bank in Saudi Arabia, where he was promoted to manager of business process re-engineering, a post offered to him by his former supervisor Chris Wingfield.

His previous job was chief operating officer of Wamad Information Services in Dubai, which he left in 2007 to pursue a career in politics.

Politics

He became the Director of Programs and Spokesperson for the Party of National Unity (PNU) in 2007.

He was appointed officer in charge of strategy for The National Alliance (TNA) in 2013, a position he held until he was elected Gatundu South MP in a by-election in 2014.

He was elected to the office unchallenged in a by-election after Jossy Ngugi, who had been elected to represent the people of Gatundu South on the TNA party ticket, died.

Kuria, unlike his predecessor, was not elected but rather appointed by the IEBC, following the controversial withdrawal of probable candidates such as Kiarie Kamere, who was well favored by residents. It was later revealed that Kuria had strong support from state house.

Kuria has distinguished himself as a member of Parliament who is known for being vocal and provocative, as evidenced by various events such as political incitement.

He is the immediate former member of Parliament for Gatundu South and was in the last election seeking to unseat James Nyoro.

Unfortunately, he lost to UDA’s Kimani Wamatangi.

He, however, landed a job in President William Ruto’s cabinet as the Cabinet Secretary for Trade.