Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has reaffirmed the government's commitment to press freedom, as guaranteed by the Kenyan constitution.

He said that Kenya must always have vibrant and accessible media; it is what the constitution expects, demands, and what Kenyans must have. And As far as he is concerned, the administration is devoted to free, vigorous, and objective media as needed.

PHOTO | COURTESY Musalia Mudavadi

Mudavadi told NTV that his colleagues should be cautious about what they say publicly because it could be misconstrued as a government decree.

Musalia said there is a fine line between a public official and someone acting in their private capacity, and his advice to any of his colleagues or anyone in public is to tread carefully.

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The Prime CS also advised his colleagues that while they are free to object, they should not do so in derogatory language.

PHOTO | COURTESY Musalia Mudavadi

Mudavadi's remarks come from a dispute involving Trade and Industrialisation Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, who recently staged a media attack. 

Kuria urged state agencies not to advertise with the Nation Media Group (NMG) following a piece in the Daily Nation Newspaper implicating him in a corruption scandal.

"I want to tell Nation Media that you need to decide whether you want to be a newspaper, a broadcasting company, or an opposition party." If any government department advertises with Nation Media starting today, not tomorrow, know you're on your way home," Kuria said. 

The trade cs has, however, refused to apologize for his remarks. On Wednesday, CS Kuria told the reporters outside the parliament buildings that he has always been pro-media and has even dealt with media houses, having formerly owned one.

PHOTO | COURTESY Moses Kuria

He also quoted Thomas Baldwin's 'The Prerogative of the Harlot,' which he related to "how the media operates in opposition to what true journalism is."

"I'm not sorry, and I've previously owned a media company." "I've been a writer in your newspapers and all that before," CS Kuria explained.

"No one is more pro-media than I am, but I know the difference between media and what Thomas Baldwin called the harlot's prerogative; the exercise of power without responsibility." he added.