Barely hours after President William Ruto shielded him from critics over his derogatory remarks against the media, Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, on Thursday, June 22, shifted his focus to the Azimio coalition, which opposed the Finance Bill 2023.
With Azimio set to hold a public engagement forum at Kamukunji Grounds on Tuesday, June 27, Kuria warned that he would lead a counter-protest to frustrate the opposition's plans.
Speaking exclusively to Kenyans.co.ke at our offices, Kuria explained that Raila and his Azimio la Umoja coalition did not have a monopoly for organising and conducting protests in the country, contrary to the Constitution, which provides freedom of assembling and picketing.
"They can demonstrate against the passing of Finance Bill 2023, no one has stopped them. We too will organise and demonstrate in its support," Kuria stated.
He further accused Azimio la Umoja of attempting to incite the public instead of organising constructive arguments.
"Do they think that they own the streets? We also have access to the same streets, and we will meet right there head-on," Kuria warned.
"The thinking that someone has a monopoly over demonstrations in this country is a pure lie," Moses Kuria stated, a well-packed warning to the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
The Finance Bill 2023 proposed several changes to the tax laws in the country, including an increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate on petroleum products from 8 per cent to 16 per cent.
The Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria defended the government's decision to increase the VAT on petroleum products, stating that the increase would raise revenue and reduce the budget deficit.
"Obviously, there will be some pain and sacrifices to be made, but as you are aware we are doing this at zero option since we inherited a lot of debt," Kuria explained.
He acknowledged that some quarters criticised the decision, but urged Kenyans to recognise Kenya's economic challenges.
On Ruto Defending Him
Kuria stated that he was relieved by President William Ruto defending him against critics who accused him of threatening the media and attempting to influence publishing policies.
"I am relieved not just because the President defended me but because more people called out the media for their biased reports.
"As a matter of fact, your right only ends where the rights of others begin. Some of these negative fabrications cause a lot of damage to our businesses," Kuria stated.
On Sunday, June 18, Kuria sparked outrage after attacking Nation Media Group for what he argued was biased coverage. The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and the opposition pressured Ruto to distance himself from Kuria's controversial remarks.
However, Ruto, on Wednesday, June 21, argued that Kuria was free to express his opinion, but the government also had an obligation to promote media freedom as entrenched in the Constitution.
"We must defend the free media. We must defend their right to criticise and say whatever they want to say, even to write propaganda and say the wrong thing. But we must also defend the rights of those who hold the media to account when the media goes rogue. We must defend the rights of people like Moses Kuria to speak their minds like we are defending the media to say everything they want, including the wrong ones.
"I saw one journalist saying that the President should defend us from Moses Kuria, that's fine; I will do my bit, but I want to ask them who is going to defend me from rogue media because I go through hell all the time," Ruto countered.
Removal of 35 Per Cent duty on Edible Oils.
The Trade Cabinet Secretary defended his advisory to the Treasury and explained why he asked Cabinet Secretary Professor Njuguna Ndung'u to consider removing the 35 per cent duty on edible oils and substitute it with a 10 per cent export and investment promotion levy.
He reiterated that the move would restrict cartels from holding the government ransom.
"It is only when we see bad behaviour by the private sector that we as government intervene to restore order and sanity.
"There is a cartel of five companies holding 50 million Kenyans hostage in as far as edible oil is concerned, and we must stand up to them," Kuria stated.
