Sober Up: Journalists Union Fires at Moses Kuria

The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) has slammed Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria after his remarks on the Nation Media Group (NMG). 

KUJ secretary general Erick Oduor in a statement on Monday, June 19 asked CS Kuria to sober up noting that his remarks are an embarrassment to Kenyans. 

“It has come to our attention utterances attributed to Trade and Industrialisation Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, a man who is now becoming a symbol of national shame.

“We would wish to remind Mr Kuria that he is now a Cabinet Secretary whose actions and utterances should promote positive image of Kenya as a nation. In line with tenets of leadership and integrity law,” Oduor stated.

He added, "I can assure Moses Kuria that the media will outlive his political career and will be waiting with glee to write his political obituary." 

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has also faulted CS Kuria saying his conduct fall below the threshold of a government official.

“The Conduct of the Cabinet Secretary falls below the threshold as set out in Chapter Six of the Kenyan Constitution for state officers as well as Article 34 on media freedom since they amount to profiling and targeting of specific journalists working for a media house,” MCK stated.

On Sunday, June 18, CS Kuria fired a warning shot at the Government agencies saying whoever will advertise with the Nation Media Group will be shown the door.

"Nation Media, Muamue kama nyinyi ni gazeti, broadcasting house, media house ama chama cha upinzani. Na mimi nimesema, Kutoka kesho, ata si kutoka kesho. Kutoka leo idara yoyote ya serikali ntaona imeweka advertisement kwa Nation Media, mjihesabu mko nyumbani," he said.

Kuria’s remarks came after a recent oil exposé by NMG that placed him and his agriculture counterpart Mithika Linturi at the heart of a deal believed to have cost Kenyans billions of losses in taxes.