Nation Media Group has condemned Trade CS Moses Kuria's remarks over the media House.
In a statement released on Monday, the Group said the verbal attack using foul and crude language against them is shocking, primitive and inexcusable in the eyes of level-headed Kenyans who expect cabinet secretaries to conduct themselves with decorum befitting their high offices.
“It constitutes a serious violation of Chapter 4 Bill of Rights, particularly the freedom of the press. We note that the attacks on media have been sustained since the Kenya Kwanza government took office,” the statement reads.
They said that it is not the first time CS Kuria has attacked Nation Media 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,” the statement reads.
They added that Kuria's statement seeking 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."
In addition, they said that such statements amount to pressure on civil servants that erodes the integrity of public debate, placing at risk, unfairly and directly, the media freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution.
“No government should weaponise taxpayer's funds at its disposal to punish media for exposing public ills in a bid to influence editorial integrity,” the statement reads.
They said that they will relentlessly uphold their media freedoms and fiercely guard their role as the public watchdog.
They further demanded an immediate apology and a retraction from the CS.
“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."
Further, they called on President William Ruto to equally publicly state his commitment to media freedom and disassociate himself from the statements by Kuria and his ilk, which serve to tarnish his government's image.
