Nairobi senator files censure motion against minister Moses Kuria over attack on the media

Embattled Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria now faces a censure motion and possible court action by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and media stakeholders over his attack on a leading media house.

Sifuna, who is also the Senate Deputy Minority Whip, issued a notice of motion to the House to censure Kuria who has been called out by various media stakeholders and other organisations as a loose tongue.

“Concerned that the CS for Investment, Trade and Industry whose reckless tongue has now reached an unmatched level of infamy, and whose divisive, abusive and demeaning rhetoric continues to cause consternation,” reads part of the motion.

Sifuna wants the Senate to find Kuria unfit to hold public office, adding that he should not hold office of high calling at the level of a Cabinet Secretary.

According to Sifuna, the media has remained an integral partner in the liberation, democratisation and governance history since independence and whose freedom has been a catalyst to the growth of nearly all sectors of the economy by providing timely and sound information.

“We have been the envy of our neighbours in the region by the robustness and boldness of our media, a hard-earned conquest that we do not take for granted. We want an assurance to be made to the media in this country that their freedom as enshrined in the constitution shall be safeguarded regardless of their opinions and views on national’s issues,” said Sifuna.

Separately, the Kenya Media Sector Working Group (KMSWG) warned that it will move to court to seek a declaration that Kuria is not fit to hold public office based on his latest outburst targeting the media.

Several human rights advocacy organisations also joined the fray, calling for Kuria’s resignation over his utterances targeting the media.

Emphasising that freedom of expression is the cornerstone of any democratic society, they termed Kuria’s threats as illegal and clearly communicates that the state intends to interfere with the work of independent agencies which includes the media.

“The body language of the government is very clear. The cabinet secretary’s utterances threatening to send home any government agencies advertising in the media is unconstitutional,” they said in a joint statement read by Haki Africa executive director Hussein Khalid.

They noted that there is an alarming attempt to stifle critical voices and undermine the media’s vital role as a watchdog at a time when Kenyans are enduring a period of high cost of living, increased taxation and alleged corruption.

“As organisations dedicated to upholding human rights and promoting social justice, we firmly denounce any form of government interference or intimidation against the media houses. Such actions undermine the democratic fabric of our nation, erode public access to information and hinder the advancement of a truly inclusive and informed society,” they added.

The lobby groups included Haki Afrika, Women Defenders Hub, Usalama Reform Forum, Transparency International, Kenya Human Rights Commission and Kariobangi Paralegal Network.

They urged the international community to monitor the situation and exert diplomatic pressure on the government to safeguard press freedom and protect the rights of the journalists adding that they commend their unwavering commitment to journalistic integrity, despite facing unwarranted attacks from the government.

On its part, KMSWG urged the government to stop intimidating the media, which is only discharging its responsibility to the public.

The group comprised Kenya Editors Guild (KEG), Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA), Media Owners Association (MOA) and Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) among 12 other media organisations.

Led by KEG President, Zubeida Kananu and KUJ Secretary General Erick Oduor, the group expressed dismay that since the Kenya Kwanza administration came into office ten months ago, it has directed sustained attacks on the media.

“The most recent attacks have been triggered by an expose of corruption in Government and other stories projecting voices demanding accountability on the part of Government,” said Kananu.

– Reporting by Irene Githinji, Rawlings Otieno and Samuel Kariuki