Kuria Attacks: The Media Not Justified To Portray The Image Of Holier-Than-Thou
The Mt Kenya Times 
Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria
By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- Appearing before the Senate Committee, the CS’s body language would tell it all. He was bitter but he would restrain himself from engaging this media house in no-hold-barred attacks during this session.
- Were it not for their story, Senate could not have invited him to respond to the nonexistence queries.
- Nevertheless, Kuria took this opportunity to relay this information to the Senate. Since we started importing essential foodstuff, the prices are coming down.
- For instance, the price of cooking oil has dropped from Sh400 to Sh200 per litre.
- A few days later, Kuria took his attacks against this media house to a new level. He would accuse some of its journalists of behaving badly and lacking good morals.
I have been following with keen interest the ongoing war of words pitting Trade, Investment and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria and one of the mainstream media houses in Kenya.
The war started when this media house published and aired a story linking the CS to the alleged multi-million cooking oil scandal.
The CS got angered because this story was not based on truth or any facts.
It was part of a wider plot to destroy his credibility and image particularly in the global arena.
This came at a time when President William Ruto had elevated him to market Kenya globally. As the branding ambassador, he had attended a number of high-profile international investment conferences held across the world.
As a result, he had so far met and held talks with more than 10 Presidents of the powerful nations. Noting that he is representing the President of Kenya, they would treat him with decorum and respect.
CS Kuria argued that this media house was envy of his rising star. So, the attacks were purely informed by malice.
He recalled that when they published the story, he challenged them to produce evidence.
They instead chickened out because they did not have an iota of truth.
It is not Moses Kuria who made the decision to import salad cooking oil.
This is a matter that had been subjected to the due process of law. All the relevant arms including the Public Procurement and Regulatory Authority (PPRA) had approved the importation.
As you know, we had promised Kenyans during the campaigns that we shall prioritise on the fight against hunger.
So, this decision is in line with the Kenya Kwanza’s manifesto.
Appearing before the Senate Committee, the CS’s body language would tell it all. He was bitter but he would restrain himself from engaging this media house in no-hold-barred attacks during this session.
Were it not for their story, Senate could not have invited him to respond to the nonexistence queries.
Nevertheless, Kuria took this opportunity to relay this information to the Senate. Since we started importing essential foodstuff, the prices are coming down.
For instance, the price of cooking oil has dropped from Sh400 to Sh200 per litre.
A few days later, Kuria took his attacks against this media house to a new level. He would accuse some of its journalists of behaving badly and lacking good morals.
This is by failing to uphold media ethics of being objective, neutral and fair.
Surely, how do you publish a one-sided story? Which kind of journalism is this?
You ought to have consulted me first if you thought something was not adding up and you needed a clarification.
Kuria further stated. This is not the first time that this media house is casting the leadership of Kenya Kwanza in bad light.
You started fighting us during the campaigns. You never believed that Dr William Ruto can win the elections and become President.
You had no time for him. You had been hired by Azimio La Umoja-OKA party to drum up support for thier candidate Raila Odinga. Your candidate lost. It is time you should accept this bitter truth and move on.
Well, this media house would not take Kuria’s comments lightly. As it denied his claims, a number of other media houses would come out to show thier solidarity.
The freedom of the media is enshrined in the constitution of 2010.
We therefore call on the public officers to respect the relevant provisions, some averred.
For other media houses, they would rightfully argue. This freedom is not absolute. When you publish stories that cannot be authenticated because they were informed by propaganda and rumors, would call this freedom? This is not freedom. This is an outright abuse of the law.
I want to agree with Kuria. In the countdown to 2022 general elections, the media was divided. It had compromised by the political class. Many believed this is after the owners and senior managers received some enticements.
A good number of them openly championed the political course of Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Party presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
We all know that Raila was the candidate of the ‘handshake’ government. As such, many believed his campaign was being sponsored by the state.
It is worth to note this. CS Kuria does not see eye to eye with Raila. This is because he is a staunch and diehard supporter and defender of President William Ruto and his administration.
As such, the Azimio luminaries consider Kuria to be one of the key stumbling block. This is in terms of nipping in the bud thier planned anti-Ruto demonstrations.
One can therefore be forgiven for coming to this conclusion. That media house is pushing the agenda of Azimio.
A time has come for the media to shed off the image of portraying themselves as holier-than-thou. They ought to relook at their steps and mend ways as well.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi
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