Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has filed a law suit at the High Court seeking prevent media houses from disseminating inaccurate and malicious reports about him.
Kuria’s petition alleges that certain media outlets have engaged in a deliberate campaign to defame his character and tarnish his reputation.
He further asserts that recent media coverage involving him has negatively impacted the country’s business prospects, hindering essential trade agreements with international partners.
The lawsuit encompasses all media houses, including the Nation Media Group, which Kuria specifically accuses of publishing a contentious article concerning his ministry.
A date for the court hearing is yet to be scheduled, but the case represents a significant development in the ongoing discourse surrounding media freedom and the right to privacy in Kenya.
This legal action by Kuria follows a separate case in which the High Court, on Wednesday, June 21, issued an order restraining him from attacking the media. Justice Lawrence Mugambi issued this directive pending the resolution of a lawsuit filed by human rights advocate Charles Mugane.
Kuria had previously made threats to expose the names of Nation Media Group journalists whom he alleged were coerced into producing anti-government content. Additionally, he vowed to terminate the employment of any government officials found advertising with the media organization.
In response to Kuria’s earlier statements targeting the media, the Nation Media Group accused him of making inflammatory and divisive remarks. The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) also condemned the Cabinet Secretary’s actions.
KUJ emphasized the severity of the attacks on the media, stating that they pose a significant threat to democracy in Kenya.
They highlighted the media’s crucial role in holding the government accountable and providing the public with essential information. The union further asserted that the government’s crackdown on the media represents an attempt to stifle dissent and control the flow of information.
