By James Wafula in Nairobi.
Abrasive and tough talking Cabinet Secretary for trade and industry Gibson Kamau Kuria has threatened to shut down the Nation media house over what he termed its constant negative reporting on the government wondering whether it had become an opposition party.
Kuria who tweeted unprintable insults at the Aga Khan owned media house which produces East Africa’s largest selling daily, Nation, said time had come for the government to act tough on “double faced” media houses that are no longer practicing journalism but had become quasi political parties for the opposition.
A stern talking Kuria warned state agents that include ministries and parastatals saying those flouting the order would be sacked on spot! This has kicked up a huge storm with the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) telling off the minister for attempting to drag the country back to the dark days of Nyayo torture chambers! KUJ Secretary General Festine Oduor said the media would not be cowed by state bullies while the Editors Guild and the Media Owners Association demanded action on the minister for infringing on the rights of a free press.
It remains unclear whether this is the official position of President William Ruto’s 8 month administration but many watchers say the minister has the support of the president. President Ruto recently appeared to criticise sections of the media coverage of the August 2022 closely contested presidential elections.
The president said some media houses which he did not name appeared to have supported a candidate who lost!
During the campaigns Citizen Royal media house owner Macharia openly supported and campaigned for Azmio candidate Raila Amolo Odinga. Citizen rolled out some of the most elaborate election campaign commercial advertisements for Odinga including footing the bill for huge campaign banners across all the more than 44 busy highways.
Nation was widely thought to have played it safe appearing to be neutral and in the closely contested presidential results streaming live it showed Ruto in the lead while Citizen posted Raila as leading!
KTN and Standard also appeared to play safe despite being owned by the Moi family who were part of Azmio supporting Odinga.
If the ministers threats to nation become the official policy the media house will be denied millions it earns from advertising at a time circulation has hit an all time low due to the vibrant social media and digital press.
Nation has in the recent past laid off more than half of its reporters, writers and editors in a bid to cut down on operational costs caused by low sales. Advertising has become all that critical for survival of the paper that also has a host of TV and radio stations in its stable■
