The Media Owners Association has castigated Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria over his threats against the Nation Media Group.
In a statement, the association’s 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.
“Kuria use of incendiary language is not expected of a public officer. In our respectful view, this disrespectful and clearly inciteful language disqualifies him horn holding public office.”
Kuria’s threats
This comes hours after Kuria issued a series of threats through social media, threatening to sack government officials who advertised with the Nation Media Group.
The media house has been running a series of exposės on graft in the government. Recently, Kuria was also listed among high-profile Kenya Kwanza figures who bagged lucrative government tenders, some of which remain undone or unfinished to date.
“The media is an institution of governance established in the Human Rights Chapter of the Constitution of Kenya, and threats to any media house or individual journalists are an affront to the Constitution which Cabinet Secretary Kuria was sworn to honor and protect,” Kalekye added.
Kalekye quoted Article 34 (a) and (b) of the Constitution which states that “the government shall not exercise control over or interfere with any person engaged in broadcasting, the production or circulation of any publication or the dissemination of information by any medium; or penalise any person for any opinion or view or the content of any broadcast, publication or dissemination.”
“As media, we play a critical role of informing Kenyans and holding those in power to account. It is unfortunate that Cabinet Secretary Kuria has directly and publicly chosen to attack the Nation Media Group for fulfilling its role of holding the government accountable,” she added.
Media owners urge to Kuria
Kalekye urged Kuria to follow established and legal channels, including the Media Council of Kenya and courts, in case he feels aggrieved by the media.
She has also called upon the Media Council of Kenya to exercise its powers and investigate Kuria for this blatant attack on the media.
We wish to remind Cabinet Secretary Kuria that as a public officer, he is duty-bound to conduct himself in a way that does not bring his office into disrepute,” she added.
Kalekye has also urged President William Ruto to crack the whip against officials in his government engaged in any misconduct.
