They Called Me A Dog- CS Kuria Moves To Sue The Media

Trade Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria, on Saturday, June 24 questioned a High Court ruling which stopped him from verbally attacking any media practitioner.

In a tweet in the early morning hours, the CS wondered how the media houses in Kenya moved to court to muzzle him from uttering or expressing any insulting and demeaning words against any media house in the wake of attacks against the Nation Media Group (NMG).

"The Media Houses obtained a gag order against me at the High Court. In today's newspaper, they have deducted me as a dog.

"Where is the justice here? Is this fair? You gag me as you continue to disparage and malign me. Grossly unfair," he lamented.

On Friday, June 23, while speaking in Iten after launching development projects with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Kuria heaped blame on Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei and other government allies for remaining silent amidst the media onslaught.

Kuria warned the senators against forgetting their mandate and allowing the media to shape the agenda alongside the opposition, adding that as CSs, despite being barred from politicking, they have had to take a stand following sustained attacks by both the media and opposition.

"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.

The CS further faulted the media for picking on him instead of calling out the rest of the Cabinet Secretaries for any wrongdoings, adding that he would not hesitate to squarely deal with them.

"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 fulfil its promises, saying that Ruto's agenda was taking shape close to 10 months into power.

The CS on the same day moved to court seeking to restrain media houses from publishing and broadcasting inaccurate, malicious reports about him.

Speaking at the same event, DP Gachagua urged politicians to unite and hold the media to account just like any other constitutionally mandated authority.

"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.

"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. 

On Wednesday, June 21, the High Court issued an injunction order against Kuria, barring him from uttering or expressing any insulting and demeaning words against any media practitioner. The order was given by Justice Lawrence Mugambi following an application filed by Charles Mugane, and pending the determination of a petition he filed.

At the same time, President William Ruto took Moses Kuria's side and narrated his own troubles at the hands of the media, despite assuring that the government will defend press freedoms in the wake of CS Kuria's verbal attacks.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua speaking in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Friday, June 23, 2023. /DPPS