Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has presented a motion to the Senate, seeking a declaration that Kuria is unfit to hold office due to his remarks that advocated denying advertising to certain sections of the press, which the CS disparaged in a series of inappropriate tweets.
Sifuna’s motion strongly criticizes Kuria’s comments, stating that they are “concerning” and infringe upon the Constitution of Kenya by undermining press freedom, which is protected under Article 34. Censure is a parliamentary procedure that expresses disapproval or reprimand for specific actions or policies of the government or an individual minister.
“We ask that Trade CS Kuria be hereby censured and be found unfit to hold an office of a high calling of the level of Cabinet Secretary,” Sifuna stated.
Sifuna argues that media freedom in the country is at risk if Kuria’s remarks are left unchallenged. He called for Kuria to be reprimanded, claiming that his conduct is disrespectful to the office of the Cabinet Secretary. The senator added that Kuria’s reckless statements were “divisive, abusive and demeaning rhetoric continue to cause consternation”.
In the censure motion, the senator also demands that the government distance itself from Kuria’s statements, and clarify that these statements do not represent the official policy of the Kenya Kwanza administration. Sifuna asserts that the media has played a crucial role in the country’s liberation and democratization and should be protected for the nation’s prosperity.
Kuria has faced widespread criticism for his remarks, with various media stakeholders, rights activists, and government institutions condemning the Cabinet Secretary. However, Kuria has yet to retract his offensive statements.
The Trade CS threatened to take action against any government official who advertises with the Nation Media Group following an expose by NTV, a station under the group. The report alleged that Cabinet Secretaries were involved in manipulating the price of edible oils, resulting in a loss of approximately Sh5.6 billion to taxpayers.
Several organizations, including the Media Council of Kenya, Kenya Union of Journalists, Kenya Editors Guild, Media Owners Association, Political Journalists Association of Kenya, Crime Reporters Association, and Kenya Media Sector Working Group, have condemned Kuria for his remarks.
In response, the Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Journalists called Kuria a symbol of national shame and urged him to issue an apology. The President of the Kenya Editors Guild also called on Kuria to apologize for his regrettable comments.
However, in a twist of events, twelve government departments and agencies placed their adverts in the latest edition of the paper. This list includes adverts from the Ministry of Education under CS Ezekiel Machogu, and the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, under CS Alice Wahome.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Monday, June 19 2023, cleared procurement officers in the government to advertise with Nation Media Group (NMG) outlets, noting Kuria’s remarks were socially unacceptable.
