Media Owners Association has called on President William Ruto's intervention over the continuous misconduct of some officers in his administration.
This is after Trade CS Moses Kuria attacked Nation Media Group using unprintable words on Sunday, June 18.
The attack followed an expose by NTV, a station under the group, where it alleged that Cabinet secretaries engineered the drop in edible oil prices and cost taxpayers Sh5.6 billion.
In a statement on Monday, association chairperson Agnes Kalekye said such state officials are a poor reflection in the President's office and the Executive.
“We wish to bring it to the attention of the Appointing Authority, His Excellency, President William Ruto, that the continued level of misconduct by some of his officers is unconstitutional and unethical, and not expected of any public officer, let alone the President's direct appointees,” Kalekye said.
"Cabinet Secretary Kuria's use of incendiary language is not expected of a public officer. In our respectful view, this disrespectful and clearly inciteful language disqualifies him from holding public office," she added.
Kalekye said the CS should have used the right channels to express his displeasure with the media station's reporting.
“If the Cabinet secretary is aggrieved or disputes any details of any articles published by The Nation Media, there are established and legal channels, including the Media Council of Kenya and courts, that individuals who feel aggrieved by the media should and can use to seek redress,” Kalekye said.
“Cabinet Secretary Kuria, or any other legally and justifiably aggrieved individual, is welcome to make use of these options.”
Kalekye said Kuria’s threats to the media house on withdrawal of government advertisements 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 on important matters of governance.
“It behooves Cabinet Secretary Kuria to understand that advertising by government and other state agencies is a legal obligation rather than a favour bestowed at the behest of himself and other public officials,” Kalekye said.
Further, the Media Owners Association chairperson called on the Media Council of Kenya to exercise its powers and investigate Kuria for his 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,” Kalekye said.
