The state department for crop development has announced that it will stop advertising with the Nation Media Group(NMG).
Crop Development Principal Secretary Kello Harsama has stated that his decision to stop advertising with the media outlet is due to misinformation and propaganda.
“My communication team has verified its real Nation. I want to officially say in protest of deliberate propaganda and misinformation, that my state department will also NOT advertise in the Nation until am convinced that the war is over. They will have to choose politics or business.”
This follows a publication by the media outlet on Monday titled “Ruto’s subsidised fertilizer farmers do not want,” which includes data on the number of bags of fertiliser delivered and the percentage of farmers who chose to use the subsidized fertiliser.
However, the conflict with Nation intensified Sunday when Trade CS Moses Kuria in Embu said NMG was "an opposition party" during a church service.
In a roadside declaration, Kuria allegedly ordered government organisations to stop working with the media outlet.
The CS implied that the publication was only suitable for funeral notices and auction advertisements and threatened to fire any state employees who did so.
“I want to tell Nation Media, you need to choose whether you are a newspaper, broadcasting house or an opposition party. From today, not even tomorrow, if any government department advertises with Nation Media, know you are on your way home,” Kuria had stated.
However, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has told off Trade CS Moses Kuria over his comments to halt advertising with select media companies stating that the government will allow the media to continue doing its work.
