Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has backed the recent remarks on keeping the media accountable by Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria and other top political class members.
DP Gachagua stated on Friday at the 40th graduation ceremony of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) that the Kenya Kwanza government has hailed a new era in which press members would not be scrutinized.
"For a long time our friends in the media were used to criticizing us and nobody used to question them. They have criticized the political class for so many years since but things have changed also," he said.
"Now Moses Kuria amewauliza maswali tatu tu and you are all crying. You have seen nothing; the media must be held accountable for what they write and what they say and if they write lies they must be countered with facts."
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DP Gachagua praised Kuria for contesting accusations made by the Nation Media Group (NMG) in which his ministry was implicated in an oil scam and asked other politicians to follow in the footsteps of the former Gatundu South MP and hold the media accountable.
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Deputy Gachagua also believes that courts should issue gag orders prohibiting journalists from "criticizing" politicians the way the courts barred Moses Kuria.
"We must have equity and fairness. What is good for Nation Media Group must be good for Moses Kuria. This is the new world, so watu wa media karibuni kwa hii Kenya mpya. Tutazoena polepole, mnatugonga hapa kidogo, tunawagonga baadaye." he added
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi was, however, singing a different tune regarding Kuria's remarks.
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.
