Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Chairman Ndiritu Muriithi has urged leaders from the Mount Kenya region to put aside political wrangles and focus on development, warning that endless infighting is slowing down progress.
Speaking on Monday, Muriithi revealed that the ten counties in the region collectively generate Ksh4.2 trillion, a figure that places the Mt Kenya economy above that of 38 African countries.
He compared the region’s economic strength to nations such as Botswana (Ksh2.94 trillion), Mauritius (Ksh2.66 trillion), and Rwanda (Ksh2.03 trillion), noting that Mt Kenya holds vast potential that is yet to be fully tapped.
“The economy of this region is bigger than that of 38 African nations combined. We must stop political fights and instead channel our energy into development,” Muriithi said.
The KRA chair stressed that counties in the region should prioritize practical initiatives such as expanding manufacturing, improving trade, and creating jobs for the youth.
According to him, relying solely on symbolic gestures and political declarations will not unlock the economic power that Mt Kenya possesses.
He further called for collaboration among counties, pointing out that other regions such as the Lake Region Economic Bloc have explored the idea of creating development banks to finance major projects.
Muriithi argued that while individual counties have hosted investment conferences, a united regional strategy would deliver stronger results.
“Pooling resources and working together can make the region self-reliant, rather than depending entirely on allocations from the national government,” he explained.
While acknowledging the progress already made in sectors such as agriculture and trade, Muriithi warned that more must be done to ensure the region’s economic size translates into real benefits for ordinary residents.
He said investment in manufacturing and trade could turn Mt Kenya into a model of balanced growth for the rest of the country.
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