Why Moses Kuria's utterance is trending

A word used by Trade Cabinet Secretary on his Twitter account has been trending in the Kenyan social media spheres for hours.

For any Swahili-speaking individual, the word 'Malaya' is deemed derogatory.

To many, it can be described as an unprintable word.

So, the word 'Malaya' is the same as Prostitute or Harlot in English. It is used to refer to a person who engages in sexual activity for payment.

It all started after Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria used it in an attack on the Nation Media Group.

The attack followed an expose by NTV, a station under the group where it alleged that Cabinet Secretaries engineered the drop in the price of edible oils, a move that made the taxpayer lose about Sh5.6 billion.

Kuria also threatened that the media organization will not get advertisements from the government.

He said the only advertisements they cannot stop from going to the NMG are those from auctioneers and funeral announcements. 

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

— CS Moses Kuria (@HonMoses_Kuria) June 18, 2023

His remarks, however, did not sit well with many Kenyans who have expressed mixed reactions over the same.

Most called out the CS, some saying that power had gotten into his head.

Here is how they reacted;