Moses Kuria Should Be Declared Unfit For Office- Journalists Issue 9 Demands

The Kenya Media Sector Working Group (KMSWG) on Tuesday, June 20 revealed that it wants the court to declare Trade and Investment Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria unfit to hold public office.

Speaking to the media, Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) Secretary General Eric Oduor stated that a court process was underway with the aim of punishing leaders in the Kenya Kwanza administration for utterances made by them.

"We already have a court process that will start anytime today so that some people in the Kenya Kwanza government can be declared unfit to hold a public office. 

"We will be going to court under Chapter 6 of the Constitution so that the court can declare some leaders in the Kenya Kwanza administration unfit to hold public office based on the utterances that have been attributed to them," Oduor addressed.

Stakeholders from the Kenya Media Sector Working Group addressing the media on June 20, 2023. /KENYA EDITORS' GUILD

The media stakeholders further urged the government to stop targeting and intimidating the media which is only discharging its responsibility to the public and that it instead, should respond to concerns by Kenyans on the scandals exposed by the media in the past.

The scandals include the diversion of condemned sugar into the market, repackaging and sale of subsidized fertilizer, questions over KEMSA, especially on the mosquito nets funds and concerns over the management of NHIF which have rendered it unable to serve Kenyans.

Also included are the questions over favouritism in the duty-free commodity imports including edible oils, maize and rice, the use of advertising revenue as a tool to blackmail the media, interference with independent institutions, especially the National Lands Commission (NLC) and the Shakahola horror

"Failure to investigate and take action against those responsible for attacks against Journalists, especially during the recent public protests over skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, among other key issues," the media stakeholders stated.

KMSWG also affirmed that the media never took a collective position in support of any specific candidate in the 2022 elections, in response to claims by Kenya Kwanza leaders that the media supported the Azimio la Umoja coalition during the 2022 general elections.

"We call on the government to stop this uncalled-for propaganda and continued hostile political rhetoric against the media and journalists. We view this as an attempt to blackmail and arm-twist the media into ceasing scrutiny of the government and those wielding power and authority," the journalists added.

KMSWG asserted that the media has a sacred responsibility to the people of Kenya, and thus will continue, without fear, to report on public issues and project the different voices in society as well as speak truth to power.

It also affirmed its commitment to discharging its role including holding the current regime to account for the good of Kenyans as it has done to previous regimes since independence and re-stated that it will not be cowed into submission.

"We read the consistent attacks on the media as attempts to divert public attention from the widespread theft of public funds and other governance challenges facing the new administration," the stakeholders added.

KMSWG urged those aggrieved by the media to seek redress through the Media Complaints Commission established under the Media Council Act and where necessary through the courts, adding that it will stand in solidarity with Nation Media Group and all journalists in the country against attacks and threats from government officials.

"We also call on President William Ruto to issue a firm assurance that they will not be allowed to seek shelter by trying to silence media that exposes their misdeeds. We are also calling on the International Community to intervene and protect Media Freedom," added the stakeholders.