The Nation Media Group (NMG) has called on President William Ruto to publicly disassociate himself from utterances by Trade CS Moses Kuria, who has declared a trade war against the media house.
In a statement hours after the CS declared economic 'war' against Nation, following a series of exposės touching on agencies under Kuria's Ministry, the media says the behaviour does not befit an official of his calibre.
"President William Ruto should equally publicly state his commitment to media freedom and disassociate himself from the statements by Kuria and his ilk, which serve to famish his government's image," NMG's head of external affairs Clifford Machoka stated.
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In a public address on Sunday, June 18, 2023, Kuria vowed that he would not allow any government agency to advertise in the Nation, eventually declaring a commercial war on the media house.
"CS Kuria has so far not disclosed his gripes against The Nation, but they seem to be related to the publication by the Sunday Nation newspaper of an expose detailing taxpayer losses from a dubious, duty-free edible oils import scheme undertaken by the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC), which falls under his Trade ministry docket," Machoka added.
Machoka termed the attack using foul and crude language against NMG is shocking, primitive and inexcusable.
"We would like to believe that Moses Kuria's statement melting to intimidate government agencies from placing advertisements with NMG does not represent government policy. We also wish to remind CS Kuria that he has no legal powers to make such a sweeping declaration. Such statements amount to pressure on servants that erodes the integrity of public debate, placing at risk, unfairly and directly, the media freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution," he added.
"No government should weaponise taxpayer's funds at its disposal to punish media for exposing public ills in a bid to influence editorial integrity."
NMG has demanded an immediate apology and a retraction from Kuria.
"We call upon the courts, the general public, media organisations and the international community to reject, condemn and take stern, appropriate action against these attempts to abrogate the rights of Kenyans," Machoka added.
Media owners take on Kuria's behaviour
Earlier, the Media Owners Association through their chairperson Agnes Kalekye termed Kuria's foul language as a major disqualification for him to hold public office.
"It is unfortunate that Cabinet Secretary Kuria has chosen to threaten the media with withdrawal of State advertising. This is clear and unequivocal blackmail, contrary to the legal provisions with regard to State advertising and Constitution and intended to compel the Nation to change its reporting of important meters of governance. It behoves Kuria to understand that advertising by government and other state agencies is a legal obligation rather than a favor bestowed at the behest of himself and other public officials," Kalekye noted.
Similarly, Kenya Union of Journalists(KUJ) termed Kuria's latest stunt as juvenile behaviour far below the dignity of his office and has now turned into national shame.
Further, the union's secretary general Erick Oduor called for the sobriety of the CS noting that it is high time for President William Ruto to take the necessary action.
"Sober up, you are becoming a national shame. We would wish to remind Kuria that he is now a Cabinet Secretary whose actions and utterances should promote a positive image of Kenya as a nation. It is our sincere hope that President William Ruto will save Kenyans from this nation's shame," the statement read in part.
In the same breath, the Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG) castigated Kuria for failing to follow the laid down legal channels to air his grievances.
"The media plays a very important role in a democracy, including holding power to account. In doing so, the media does not operate above the law. If a State Officer or any Kenyan for that matter, is aggrieved by the work of the media, they have an array of avenues to raise them, including pursuing the legal route or reaching out to the media entity concerned," KEG President Zubeidah Kananu.
"To go out in public spaces to lambast and reduce the important work the media does to whorish business is the highest form of insult to media professionals in the country. Indeed, Hon. Kuria's remarks have taken us back nearly 30 years ago when the late Mulu Mutisya, a one-party dictatorship zealot, described journalists in similar terms. Hon. Kuria must have slept through the revolution. Our country has come of age to appreciate the rule of law, and the separation of roles in a democracy. The language of threats to both media and government officials was buried in the year 2010."
