The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) wants President William Ruto to whip Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria into order after he was accused of discrediting the media.
In a statement issued on Monday, June 19, the Union also asked the DP to tame his allies with the same zeal, vigour and passion he portrayed in his fight against illicit brew, drug and substance abuse.
Additionally, it demanded an apology from both the CS and the government over the statements arguing that the media had an obligation to keep the state in check.
“A celebrated philosopher, Plato, stated that leaders are the mirrors of the society, and we sincerely hope that President William Ruto will save Kenyans from this national shame.
“While we support the ongoing initiatives by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to deal with the impact of rampant consumption of alcohol in the country, it is our opinion that for this war to bear fruit, he should cast the net wider to rid the county of leaders who are not in control of their faculties,” the statement read in part.
KUJ criticised Kuria and Gachagua's reaction towards exposés published by the Daily Nation and aired by NTV in subsequent bulletins, arguing that the two leaders do not have the country's best interest at heart.
“We wish to remind Kuria that he is now a Cabinet Secretary whose actions and utterances should promote a positive image of Kenya as a nation, in line with tenets of leadership and integrity law,” added the statement.
Further, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and the Kenya Editors’ Guild issued statements demanding an apology while calling out the CS for censoring the media.
MCK pressured the government to issue a rebuttal on the allegations levelled against it to promote balanced coverage.
“The Council notes that this is the most extreme, since independence, that individuals have pushed media and government relations to the brink and lowered the country’s dignity.
“It is important that the media receives a coherent and consistent narrative from the State to enable a balanced coverage of government initiatives,” the statement read in part.
At the same time, the Kenya Editors’ Guild asked the Kenya Kwanza administration to issue an assurance that the statements by the CS did not reflect the government's position.
"We do not know the context in which such unwarranted, uncalled for and totally off-the-mark remarks were made, given that the CS did not expound further.
"It is, however, safe to conclude that the CS is unhappy with the work of Nation Media Group in informing or educating Kenyans," it noted.
Kuria criticised Nation Media Group for a report that linked his ministry to a Ksh6 billion oil scandal. The former Gatundu South MP threatened to dismiss state officials found advertising with NMG.
Gachagua, conversely, alleged that NMG accused Ruto of inflating the foreign tour budgets without verifying the information.
