The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Monday told off Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria over his recent comments on State agencies advertising with the Nation Media Group (NMG).
Kuria had accused NMG of being “an opposition party” before issued a roadside declaration that directed government agencies to stop advertising with the media house, failure to which the managers would be sacked.
Kuria was seemingly responding to an exposé NMG ran over the weekend exposing an oil scandal allegedly orchestrated by his ministry.
The issue shows the government lost billions of shillings in unpaid duties.
EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak in a statement on Monday however rubbished Kuria’s declaration and noted that public procurement in Kenya is governed by the law and no public institution or official should be victimized for doing business with the media house.
“The Constitution in Article 227 requires that public procurement be carried out in a system that is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive, and cost-effective.
Consequently, no person or organization can, lawfully, be denied an opportunity to participate in any public procurement except as may be authorized under the law,” said Mbarak.
“Similarly, no public institution or public official should be victimized for engaging in any lawful dealings with any organization, including in the award of tenders.
The Commission, therefore, advises all state and public officers to strictly adhere to the laws governing the management of public affairs, including the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution and the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012.”
Kuria’s remarks, in which he also labelled the media house’s journalists “prostitutes“, angered many Kenyans who deemed it too low and juvenile.
The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Kenya Editors’ Guild said castigating the CS’ utterances and his overall conduct as a State official.
KUJ said Kuria was “becoming a symbol of national shame” and condemned his reactions to media reports as an embarrassment to Kenyans.
The Kenya Editors’ Guild on its part termed Kuria’s remarks as “unwarranted, uncalled for and totally off the mark.”
KEG demanded an unconditional apology from the Trade and assurance from President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration that the sentiments expressed by Kuria do not represent the policy of the government.
The guild also sought assurance that the media enterprises will be accorded their space to execute their mandate.
The NMG, Crime Journalists Association of Kenya, Political Journalists Association of Kenya, and Media Owners Association too condemned the CS remarks.
