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President Ruto Defends Moses Kuria Over His Media Slur
President William Ruto Wednesday supported trade minister Moses Kuria for threatening the media over its exposé of a cooking oil scandal.
Kuria had warned government departments not to advertise with the Nation Media Group (NMG) after the report alleged that certain private firms were allowed by his ministry to import cooking oil tax-free.
The report noted that the specific exemption under Kenyan law could only be made for emergency relief goods – with the whole deal potentially leading to the loss of more than $100m.
On Twitter, Kuria called journalists working at NMG “whores”.
His comments caused outrage in the media sector, even earning him a rebuke from the industry regulator.
Kuria vowed never to apologize for his remarks, accusing the media of bias.
On
Wednesday afternoon, a high court issued an order blocking Kuria from uttering derogatory or insulting words against journalists, pending a case filed by a human rights activist that the minister’s outburst made him unsuitable to serve as a public officer.
But President Ruto said that people should be allowed to call out the media: “We must also defend the rights of those who hold the media to account when the media goes rogue.
“We must defend the rights of people like Moses Kuria to speak their mind the same way we are defending the media to say all the things they want, including the wrong ones.”
Azimio Senators walk out on Moses Kuria
Senators of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance Wednesday walked out from the Senate after Speaker Amason Kingi rejected a motion to criticize Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria over his attacks on the media.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna sought clarification on what grounds CS Kuria has been allowed to address the House, yet there is a motion, filed on June 19, seeking to grill him over his blatant remarks.
“My fear is that the CS is going to use this privilege of appearing before the Senate to cleanse himself of the accusations contained in that motion,” he said.
“We in the minority side are objecting to his presence in this House and seek guidance on whether his presence here today to the dispense of this motion is prejudicial to the same motion.”
In his refusal, Speaker Kingi said that the motion Senator Sifuna was alluding to did not follow the required procedure of filing a motion in the House, stating that the motion breached the Standing Orders.
“Pursuant to Standing Order number 60 that addresses on matters motion, a Senator first, before moving a motion, they must file a notice of motion, and before you move it, the first thing you do is to take the clerk a copy of the proposed motion,” explained Kingi.
“Thereafter the clerk is required to submit it to the Speaker and the Speaker, using certain parameters as guided under Standing Order 63, the Speaker guided himself in order either to admit that particular motion or to rule it inadmissible.”
Speaker Kingi added that he received no motion and ruled that Senator Sifuna was out of order and CS Kuria was allowed to address the House.
“As far as I am concerned, I have not seen the proposed motion that Senator Sifuna submitted. Therefore having not seen it, it cannot be a subject of discussion on the floor of the House today,” he added.
“What we are doing is anticipating debate contrary to Standing Order 99. I, therefore, rule that, Senator Sifuna, you are out of order because your argument breaches order 99, and you are anticipating debate. I will therefore allow the CS to proceed to respond to the question as asked by Marsabit Senator.”
After Speaker Kingi’s ruling, the Azimio legislators left the chambers, paralyzing the proceedings for ten minutes due to a lack of quorum.
DP Gachagua Defends Ruto’s High Cost of Travel blames media
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua Monday defended President William Ruto following reports that he has outspent his predecessors three times more on travel.
According to the report, the office of the President has spent Ksh.2.369 billion on travel, fuel, hospitality, and maintenance of motor vehicles alone for the period October 2022 to March 2023, compared to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s expenditure during the same period last year which clocked at Ksh.852 million.
The report from the Controller of Budget added that Ruto’s office had spent Ksh.541 million for the same period on domestic and international travel compared to Uhuru’s Ksh.218.3 million for the same period last year.
DP Gachagua also accused the media of lacking objectivity in reporting.
“Yesterday morning, I found another headline saying that for the time you have been in office, you (Ruto) have spent three times what your predecessors spent on local and international travel, but these people were not honest enough and objective to also outline the level of activities you have carried out in that period because the cost is determined by the level of activity,” he said.
“So I invite the media to find out when the President has traveled and to which country, what is the gain for the country. It is only then that you can make an objective analysis.”
Gachagua encouraged Ruto to continue the travels “and bring resources for the development of this country.”
“We want to encourage you that you must continue with bilateral [and] multilateral diplomacy for the benefit of this country as you continue to locally harness resources to restore the economy of this country to where President Mwai Kibaki left us.”
Kenya Signs Trade Deal With EU
Kenya and the European Union Monday signed a trade deal which gives Kenya tariff-free access to the European market.
As a result, Kenyan goods are likely to be cheaper in Europe. The deal is aimed at increasing Kenya’s exports and create more jobs in Kenya.
“The deal assures Kenya of an expanded, stable, lucrative and sustainable market, enhancing trade and investment opportunities. This will create employment for millions of people, expand earnings and spur sustainable growth,” President #Ruto said.
Trade Minister Moses Kuria termed it a “proud moment” for the country.
Kenya sells a fifth of all its exports in Europe— mostly agricultural products including vegetables, cut flowers, tea and coffee.
After the deal, Kenya is also expected to gradually lower barriers to EU products. An EU statement noted that this was a balanced agreement, as it considers “Kenya’s development needs by allowing it a longer period to gradually open its market”.
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