CJAK Condemns Blatant Attack On Nation Media Group By Trade CS Kuria

NAIROBI Kenya June 19 -The Crime Journalists Association of Kenya (CJAK) strongly condemns the verbal attack on, and declaration of commercial war, with the Nation Media Group by Moses Kuria, the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industrialization.

CS Kuria on Sunday during a public address where he accused Nation of being “an opposition party” and vowed that he would not allow any government agency to advertise in the Nation.

CS Kuria went further and posted on his official Twitter handle a derogatory statement that insulted Nation employees as well ast the NMG principal shareholder of the Group, His Highness the Aga Khan.

The outburst follows a story published on Sunday June 18 by Sunday Nation 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.

“The role of the media in promoting national cohesion, equality, social capital etc., cannot be overemphasized. The media is the soul of the people. Yours is a simple role, if empowering the media is not in your agenda. Keep your verbal acrobatics off their lane. It is a simple path made of principles- it leads to character; integrity, respect and self-awareness. That is the stuff leaders should be made of,” CJAK Secretary General Akelo Odenyo said.

“The entitled, self-righteous CS is killing the very spirit that the government proclaims it instils,” she added.

The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Kenya Editors’ Guild have also condemned CS Kuria over the attacks.

KUJ in a statement signed by Secretary-General Eric Oduor on Monday said Kuria was “becoming a symbol of national shame” and condemned his reactions to media reports as an embarrassment to Kenyans.

KUJ reminded CS Kuria that he is now a Cabinet Secretary whose actions and utterances should promote a positive image of Kenya as a nation, in line with tenets of leadership and integrity law.

“His reactions to media reports regarding one of the many scandals that have hit Kenya Kwanza administration within a span of 10 months are not only an embarrassment to Kenyans, but a confirmation that his stomach is full and can belch and eventually vomit on the shoes of hungry Kenyans with impunity,” KUJ said.

“While we support the ongoing initiatives by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to deal with the impact of rampant consumption of alcohol in the country, it is our opinion that for this war to bear fruit, he should cast the net wider to rid the county of leaders who are not in control of their faculties. I can assure Mr Kuria that the media will outlive his political career and will be waiting with glee to write his political obituary,” added the statement.

Similarly, the Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG) in a statement signed by Guild President Zubeida Kananu castigated Kuria’s remarks as “unwarranted, uncalled for and totally off the mark.”

KEG said media plays a very important role in a democracy, including holding power to account and 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. 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,” KEG said.

KEG has also demanded an unconditional apology from the ministry and assurance from President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration that the sentiments expressed by Kuria do not represent the policy of the government.

The NMG has also condemned the unprovoked verbal attack

“CS Kuria has so far not disclosed his gripes against the Nation, but they seem to be related to publication by the Sunday Nation newspaper of an expose detailing taxpayer losses from a dubious, duty-free edible oils import scheme,” NMG said.

NMG’s Head of External Affairs Clifford Machoka said it was not the first time that CS Kuria is pouring vitriol against Nation, and the media in general.

“At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, he urged the public to shun buying newspapers as a way of keeping the virus at bay. He is also on record as having used an expletive on a Nation journalist on live television during his tenure as Gatundu South MP,” Machoka said.

“The verbal attack using foul and crude language against NMG is shocking, primitive and inexcusable in the eyes of levelheaded Kenyans who expect cabinet secretaries to conduct themselves with decorum befitting their high offices,” he added.