‘Give us time to work’ – CS Kuria sustains vulgar attacks on media despite gag order
Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has launched fresh attacks on the media just days after a Nairobi court barred him from making offensive comments against media practitioners in the country.
Speaking when he presided over a food distribution exercise at Kimorori grounds in Kenol town on Saturday, June 24, Kuria referred to journalists covering the event as prostitutes even as he vowed to give back in equal measure what he got from the fourth estate.
The controversial former Gatundu South Member of Parliament accused the local media of bias in their reporting, claiming the broadcasters sided with opposition leader Raila Odinga in the last presidential election.
“I said recently an arrow in the night…these prostitutes from the media, how they come at me is how I will respond to them. The way they feel hurt when I call them that, is the same way we are hurt when they wrongly accuse us…and they should give us time to work, they were with the previous government for 10 years,” he said, insisting that the media should allow the Kenya Kwanza administration to work.
Kuria has been on the spot in the last few days for referring to journalists from the Nation Media Group as prostitutes after the media house published a story linking him to a controversial Ksh6 billion edible oil transaction.
He received a backlash from members of the public and media stakeholders after he warned state agencies against advertising with the media house.
The CS remained adamant that he would not apologise over the slur last Wednesday.
"I am not apologising. I have been a media owner before. I have been a writer in your newspapers. There is nobody who is pro-media more than me. But I know the difference between media and what Thomas (Stanley) Baldwin called the prerogative of the harlot, the exercise of power without responsibility," Kuria stated.
Moses Kuria gagged
Later in the day, the High Court issued orders barring the CS from uttering or expressing insulting or demeaning comments against the press.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi issued the conservatory orders following a petition filed by human rights activist Charles Mugane.
"Pending hearing and determination of this application an injunction be issued against the Cabinet Secretary Trade preventing him from uttering or expressing any belittling, condescending, disdainful words against any media practitioner by the meaning of Article 34 of the constitution howsoever and whatsoever," Justice Mugambi ordered.
President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua, however, continue to defend the CS over the attacks on the media, insisting that the media must be held to account for their reporting.
Speaking when he presided over a graduation ceremony at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) last Friday, Gachagua said the media must be "countered with facts when they spread lies".
"For a long time, our friends in the media were used to criticizing us (politicians) and nobody used to question them and now things have changed because no situation is permanent. We took the criticism in strides and we agreed that they should hold us to account but things have changed and now we are saying somebody needs to hold the media to account over the things they write," Gachagua said.
He asked the media to embrace criticism, saying they have "seen nothing yet".
"So (the media) welcome to the world of Moses Kiarie Kuria… I am so happy with the way the media has reacted to criticism. It's good you are feeling the way we feel. You have been hitting us left, right and centre and nobody has ever held you to account. Moses Kuria has asked you a few questions and you are all over crying, you have seen nothing," he said.
