CS Kuria is a national shame-Media

“Let me finish by saying this to those in the media industry, Nation Media should decide whether you are a gazette, a broadcasting house, a media house, or an opposition party,” said Kuria in a speech on Sunday, June 18, at the Akorino Annual Convention in Embu.

He further stated that any government agency discovered to be working with the aforementioned media outlet will suffer the repercussions. “And I declare that starting today, any government office that I see running Nation Media ads will leave, God bless you everyone.” Kuria said.

Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria threatens to sack any government official who advertises with the Nation Media Group pic.twitter.com/zKluubnFGx

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 19, 2023

Later, Kuria insulted the media outlet founded by the Aga Khan in a tweet on his account;

Kwa wale malaya wa Agha Khan pale Nation Centre. You can still advertise auctioneers and funeral announcements. We will not stop those

— Hon.Moses Kuria,HSC (@HonMoses_Kuria) June 18, 2023

and said that he would not object to anyone posting obituaries, Funeral notices and auctioneers. “we won’t stop those,” part of the tweet stated.

The media reacts

In a statement released on Monday, June 19, KEG stated that the media plays a crucial role in serving as the nation’s watchdog and that if any Kenyans are unhappy with its actions, they should follow the proper channels to voice their concerns.

Statement: The attention of the Kenya Editors’ Guild is drawn to a set of remarks attributed to Hon. Moses Kuria, the CS Trade and Industry, attacking a leading media establishment in the country, the Nation Media Group. pic.twitter.com/aJDwteuQEG

— Kenya Editors’ Guild (@KenyaEditors) June 19, 2023

“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,” read the statement.

Instead of following the law, Kuria chose to express his displeasure with the media outlet on social media, a decision that has greatly enraged media stakeholders.

The biggest type of insult to media practitioners in the nation, according to KEG, is to criticize and downplay the essential work the media undertakes in public.

The Kenya Union of Journalists, which has issued a statement reminding the CS that he is the mirror of the country and should project a positive image, has also brought attention to Kuria’s offensive remarks.

Along with KUJ, the Media Council of Kenya has described these measures as a threat to press freedom and a stain on the nation’s reputation.

The MCK’s press release from today stated that “The Council notes that this is the most extreme that individuals have pushed media and government to the brink and lowered the country’s dignity since independence.”

Let the media play it's watch dog role… pic.twitter.com/KLE6clTGeS

— Media Council of Kenya (@MediaCouncilK) June 19, 2023

Additionally, Nation Media Group has published a statement calling for Kuria to retract his remarks.

NMG Media Statement on Attack by CS Moses Kuria. pic.twitter.com/SS5TcBA1q4

— Nation Media Group (@NationMediaGrp) June 19, 2023

President William Ruto has also been urged by The Media House to officially declare his support for media freedom. “We wish to reaffirm our commitment to relentlessly uphold media freedoms and fiercely guard our role as the public watchdog,” reads the statement from Nation.

Media stakeholders want the government to reassure them that Kuria’s actions do not reflect official positions.

Kenyans respond

Kuria is said to have made the derogatory remarks as a result of an NTV investigation into how the government permitted private companies to import oils without paying taxes, albeit the exact cause of Kuria’s inappropriate behavior is still unknown.

The article claims that private companies would be tasked with importing oil without paying taxes, and government organizations would later purchase the oil from them and sell it to the general public through other private companies.

The article also mentioned how much money is lost and how imported oil is sold for more than locally produced oil, a decision that would result in a loss to taxpayers of Ksh10 billion.

Internet users, particularly Kenyans on Twitter, have spoken out in favor of the media, praising their work. “Nation Media group has been doing an excellent job of uncovering corruption that we would not have known existed otherwise. Such a minister would have been asked to resign immediately due to such attacks on the media in a civilized nation,” Kiprono tweeted.

“You must keep in mind that His Highness the Aga Khan is the spiritual leader of a sizable community who are also significant capitalists. It is completely unacceptable to exploit his name in this way,” tweeted Mihr Thakar.

“We will merely presume that Bishop Dr. William Ruto supports this if this comment by a complete cabinet secretary doesn’t result in disciplinary action against him.” a tweet from Ms. Nyaguthii.  She stated, “This is the language they use at cabinet meetings and the daily statehouse devotions.”

However, Moses Kuria has continued to attack the media organization. He has gone above and beyond by tweeting photographs of government advertisements that are published in the newspaper with the phrase, “…not good!”

Daily Nation Page 15. Not good pic.twitter.com/Do8vaBLzPc

— Hon.Moses Kuria,HSC (@HonMoses_Kuria) June 19, 2023