Nation Media Group was unbowed by Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria's outbursts and rather confronted the former Gatundu South MP with a 650-word letter.
NMG, on Monday, June 19, demanded Kuria apologise and retract his threats to cut government advertisements assigned to the media house.
It also underlined that the CS could have utilised complaint mechanisms within the media house to raise his grievances or sought legal address in court instead of taking to social media or public rallies.
In the letter seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the media house termed the utterances as an unprovoked verbal attack and, in essence, a declaration of a commercial war on NMG.
It also suspected that the CS was irritated by an article that exposed how taxpayers lost funds in a dubious, duty-free edible oils import scheme reportedly masterminded by the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC), under the Ministry of Trade.
"The verbal attack using foul and crude language against NMG is shocking, primitive and inexcusable in the eyes of level-headed Kenyans who expect cabinet secretaries to conduct themselves with decorum befitting their high offices.
"It constitutes a serious violation of Chapter Four Bill of Rights, particularly the freedom of the press. We note that the attacks on media have been sustained since the Kenya Kwanza government took office," the statement read in part.
NMG claimed that the CS lacked the constitutional powers to cut down its major source of revenue. It, however, noted that such statements piled pressure on the media, which is mandated to hold the government accountable.
"No government should weaponise taxpayer's funds at its disposal to punish media for exposing public ills in a bid to influence editorial integrity," NMG stated.
"We at NMG wish to reaffirm our commitment to relentlessly uphold media freedoms and fiercely guard our role as the public watchdog. We demand an immediate apology and a retraction from CS Kuria."
The media giant also called upon the courts, the general public, media organisations, and the international community to reject, condemn and take stern, appropriate action against Kuria's attempts to abrogate the rights of Kenyans.
"President William Ruto should equally publicly state his commitment to media freedom," NMG triggered the head of state.
