DP Gachagua wants media gagged from criticizing government
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has come to the defence of Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria once again following the latter’s recent remarks on the media.
Speaking during the 40th graduation ceremony at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Gachagua hit out at the media while calling for press to be held accountable for stories published.
“For a long time our friends in the media were used to criticising us and nobody used to question them. Now things have changed because no situation is permanent. Along the way, they have criticised the political class for so many years and we took the criticism in stride and we agreed they’d hold us to account but things have changed also. We are also saying that somebody needs to hold the media to account for the things that they write. Now welcome to the world of Moses Kuria,” he said.
He further called out the courts stating that they need to be fair when issuing orders on matters regarding the media and political leaders.
“The same way the courts have been persuaded to gag Moses Kuria from holding the press to account, I want the same courts; when leaders go to court and ask them to restrain the media from criticising leaders, the same courts must give same orders so that we are fair. We must have equity and fairness. What is good for Nation newspaper must be good for Moses Kuria. This is the new world so media people, welcome to the new Kenya,” he added.
CS Kuria has received criticism over his remarks against Nation Media Group and its staff.
In his remarks, both on video and text dated 18 June, circulating on social media, the CS threatened public officers against advertising on NMG platforms, with sacking, which amounts to commercial censorship and incitement of the public against the media house. Further in his tweet on the same dates, Kuria made derogatory remarks referring to NMG staff in unprintable words.