Gachagua Throws CS Kuria Under The Bus In Nation Media Row

Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, on Monday, June 19 dismissed threats issued by Trade Cabinet Secretary (CS), Moses Kuria to fire government officials who would be found placing adverts in the Nation Media Group.

Gachagua, while speaking during the Kenya Water and Sanitation International Conference and Exhibition in Mombasa, argued that the current regime was looking out for the best interests of Kenya's mainstream media.

He emphasised that the media should be allowed to enjoy its freedom as guaranteed by the Constitution and thus criticised Kuria for vowing to cripple a critical part of the media business by threatening to withdraw adverts from the regional media house.

“Whereas I agree with Moses Kuria that you (NMG) have become rogue and you are part of the Azimio brigade trying to bring down the government, I don’t agree with what he has suggested that we stop advertising with you, we shouldn’t because we are democratic and we should be able to allow you to continue doing your job,” said Gachagua, who argued that Kuria went overboard with his remarks.

However, Gachagua reiterated that he would not stop calling out the media for going to extreme measures in keeping the government in check, in defence of CS Kuria and his allies who have had bad blood with the media since the Kenya Kwanza government took power.

“Ours is to call you out when you go overboard we must tell you on the face that is the strategy," he added.

He also criticised the media for creating several impressions that he and President William Ruto were not seeing each other eye to eye, affirming that the government of the day was full of unity.

"You are going to wait for a long time and you'll be disappointed. There will be no cracks in this government. This is a very solid government with leaders who have been brought together by a plan and some commitment to work for the people of Kenya.

"The President and I are all pulling in the same direction. We all see things the same way, so don't try to create problems where there are none," he added.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) also dismissed CS Kuria's remarks, assuring that it has a constitutional and statutory mandate to advise public institutions and public officials on ethics and good governance practices in the discharge of their responsibilities, including on issues concerning procurement of goods and services.

EACC noted that public procurement laws and Regulations are designed to achieve important objectives in the management of public affairs, as set out in the Constitution and the relevant Statutes.

"The Constitution in Article 227 requires that public procurement be carried out in a system that is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective. Consequently, no person or organization can, lawfully, be denied an opportunity to participate in any public procurement except as may be authorized under the law.

"Similarly, no public institution or public official should be victimized for engaging in any lawful dealings with any organization, including in the award of tenders," stated EACC in a hard-hitting statement.

The anti-corruption body went on to advise all state and public officers to strictly adhere to the laws governing the management of public affairs, including the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution and the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012.

CS Kuria's remarks triggered a response from NMG themselves as well as strong statements from the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), the Kenya Editors' Guild (KEG) and the Political Journalists Association of Kenya (PJAK).