Nairobi Senator Sifuna Files Censure Motion Against Trade Secretary Kuria for Media Attacks
Senator Edwin Sifuna of Nairobi has reportedly filed a motion of censure against Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria for his recent attacks on the media.
Kuria attacked the Nation Media Group (NMG) on Sunday, accusing them of being “an opposition party” in retaliation for an exposé the NMG published over the weekend on an alleged oil scandal orchestrated by his ministry.
Labeling the media house’s journalists as “prostitutes”, he even made a roadside declaration directed at government agencies to stop advertising with NMG, failure to which they would be sacked.
In an interview with Radio Citizen on Wednesday morning, Sifuna stated that Kuria’s behavior and suitability for public office were questionable in light of his outburst.
“I have filed a motion in the Senate to discuss Moses Kuria’s conduct because the First Amendment, which protects press freedom, must be upheld. “A person in such a position should not be permitted to make remarks that cannot even be made in front of children,” he said.
He condemned the minister’s remarks as a violation of the constitutional press freedom Kenyans enjoy.
The senator from Nairobi stated, “Journalists don’t make things up; they simply report what has occurred,” adding, “It’s unfortunate that his superiors are remaining silent amid all of this. It could be interpreted as evidence that this is what this government stands for.”
Many Kenyans were angered by CS Kuria’s remarks, which they deemed too low and immature.
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On Monday, the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Kenya Editors’ Guild issued statements condemning the CS’s statements and conduct as a state official.
The Kenyan Union of Journalists (KUJ) stated that Kuria was “becoming a symbol of national shame” and condemned his responses to media reports as embarrassing to Kenyans.
The Kenya Editors’ Guild, for its part, described Kuria’s comments as “unwarranted, uncalled-for, and completely off-base.”
KEG demanded an unreserved apology from the Trade and confirmation from President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration that Kuria’s comments do not reflect government policy.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also addressed the controversy in what appeared to be a defense of Kuria’s comments, claiming that the media has become “rogue” and is part of the opposition brigade that is attempting to bring down the government.
Gachagua denounced Kuria’s call to remove government advertisements from the Nation Media Group, however.
Since then, however, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has dismissed Kuria’s statement, noting that public procurement in Kenya is governed by the law and that no public institution or official should be punished for conducting business with the media company.
“Article 227 of the Constitution mandates that the public procurement process be fair, equitable, transparent, competitive, and cost-effective. “Therefore, no person or organization may lawfully be denied the opportunity to participate in any public procurement unless specifically permitted by law,” said EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak in a Monday statement.
Nairobi Senator Sifuna Files Censure Motion Against Trade Secretary Kuria for Media Attacks
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