Moses Kuria Files Lawsuit Against Media for Defamation
Moses Kuria, cabinet secretary for trade, filed a lawsuit with the High Court on Friday, June 23, 2023, to prevent media outlets from publishing and broadcasting false and malicious reports about him.
In the petition, Kuria alleged that a segment of the media was attempting to smear his name and harm his reputation.
He added that recent media coverage featuring him had caused serious business setbacks for the nation, impeding crucial trade agreements with foreign partners.
The lawsuit was filed against all media outlets, including Nation Media Group, which he accused of publishing a contentious article about his ministry.
A collage of images of Trade CS Moses Kuria addresses traders of the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) on Kimathi Street in Nairobi and the Nation Media Group offices on June 13, 2023.
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The court has not yet set a date to hear his petitions. Nonetheless, the case is a significant development in Kenya’s ongoing debate regarding media freedom and the right to privacy.
Kuria’s lawsuit comes on the heels of another case in which the High Court barred him from attacking the media on Wednesday, June 21.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi issued the order pending the outcome of the lawsuit filed by Charles Mugane, an advocate for human rights.
Kuria had threatened to publish the names of Nation Media Group authors whom he claimed was coerced into writing anti-government stories. Additionally, he vowed to dismiss any state officials who discovered advertising with the media company.
In response to Kuria’s previous threats against the media, Nation Media Group accused him of making divisive and provocative remarks.
Also condemning the CS were the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).
“The attacks on the media in Kenya pose a grave threat to democracy. The media is essential for holding the government accountable and informing the public.
“The government’s crackdown on the media is an attempt to silence dissent and control the flow of information,” KUJ stated.
Moses Kuria Files Lawsuit Against Media for Defamation
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