CS Kuria 'under siege' from media stakeholders for attack on NMG

By Peter Ochieng

Media stakeholders have roundly condemned Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Trade and Industrialisation Moses Kuria, over attacks on Nation Media Group (NMG).

Speaking in Embu County over the weekend, the vocal CS warned officers manning various government agencies against advertising with NMG, after the Media House's expose on edible oils 'scandal.'

“I want to tell Nation Media, you need to choose whether you are a newspaper, broadcasting house or an opposition party. From today, not even tomorrow, if any government department advertises with Nation Media, know you are on your way home," warned the former Gatundu South MP.

On Monday, through a series of tweets, the CS trolled NMG, stooping as low as calling the company's journalists prostitutes.

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK), Kenya Editors' Guild (KEG) and Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) in separate statements, condemned Kuria for his unwarranted attacks on NMG.

"Sober up, you are becoming a national shame," KUJ Secretary General Erick Oduor told Kuria.

He added, "We wish to remind Mr Kuria that he is now a CS whose actions and utterances should promote positive image of Kenya as a nation, in line with tenets of leadership and intergrity laws."

KEG President Zubeidah Kananu said the CS must have slept through a revolution.

"Hon. Kuria must have slept through the revolution. Our country has come of age to appreciate the rule of law, and separation of roles in a democracy. The language of threats to both the media and government officials was buried in the year 2010."

2010 is the year the current constitution was promulgated.

MCK in a statement signed by CEO David Omwoyo said:

"The Council notes that this is the most extreme, since independent that individuals have pushed media and government relations to the brink and lowered the country's dignity."