Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, on Friday, June 23, explained why he was forced to speak against the media in defence of President William Ruto's administration.
While speaking in Iten after launching development projects with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Kuria blamed Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei and other government fanatics for maintaining silence amid the media onslaught.
Kuria warned the senators against absconding their mandate and allowing the media and the opposition to shape the agenda.
He emphasised that as CSs, they were barred from politicking, but with the continued media coverage and opposition attacks, they were forced to take a stand.
"When we were given these jobs as CSs, we did not come for politics. I want to tell Cherargei that he is the root of this problem. We said that he should talk, and it seems he has failed, and we can not let the government fail," he stated.
Kuria used the analogy of a football team, adding that in desperate times, the coach may be forced to play, and bench some players.
"The media should have gone for Cooperatives CS, Simon Chelugui, or the other 22 CSs who may not fight back, but they came for me. If you come for President William Ruto, his deputy Rigathi Gachagua and I, I will deal with you," he added.
Kuria urged Kenyans to give the government time to fulfill its promises, saying that Ruto's agenda was taking shape nine months into power.
Additionally, Kuria questioned the court's decision to restrain him from making derogatory comments about the media.
"You gag me as you continue to disparage and malign me. Grossly unfair," Kuria complained.
On Friday, June 23, Kuria moved to the High Court seeking to restrain media houses from publishing and broadcasting inaccurate, malicious reports about him.
Speaking at the same event, DP Gachagua escalated his onslaught against the media. Gachagua urged politicians to join hands and hold the media accountable alongside other constitutionally mandated authorities.
"The time to tell the media truth has come. They used to tell us the truth when they were supporting Azimio La Umoja (the opposition). We will now counter their lies with facts," Gachagua
"The media should leave Moses Kuria alone, if they want to attack anyone, let them come for me. When you were attacking us, no one was complaining, but now the tables have turned. You were the ones sharing fake opinion polls claiming Ruto, and I will never win. They do not want to write anything positive about us," Gachagua alleged.
Media practitioners led by the Kenya Union of Journalists and the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) condemned Kuria and Gachagua and urged President Ruto to restrain his juniors.
However, in a rejoinder, Ruto supported Kuria and Gachagua, urging them to continue defending themselves against what he argued were false media reports. He, nonetheless, advocated for the need to respect media freedom as entrenched in the Constitution.
