The High Court has issued orders stopping Trade CS Moses Kuria from uttering or expressing any insulting and demeaning words against any Media Practitioner.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi issued the order following an application filed by one Charles Mugane, a human rights defender
"Pending hearing and determination of this application an injunction be issued against the Cabinet Secretary Trade preventing him from uttering or expressing any belittling, condescending, disdainful words against any Media Practitioner by the meaning of Article 34 of the constitution howsoever and whatsoever," reads the order.
The judge directed the application by Charles be served to the CS and the Attorney General within three days and responses done within 7 days.
The matter will be mentioned on July 24.
Mugane, also an advocate of the High Court told Justice Mugambi that the use of derogatory words by Kuria is a gross breach of Chapter 6 of the Constitution and the Leadership and Integrity Act.
He told the Judge that “there stand to be grave risks of intimidation and harassment of journalists, media houses and members of the fourth estate in general by the government and in particular Kuria if the prayers sought, are not granted.”
Mugane said the words used by Kuria threaten media freedom, are unconstitutional and offend the public procurement and disposal act.
The Daily Nation on June 18 ran an expose on its Saturday Nation under the headline “How the first Cabinet meeting birthed a questionable deal” detailing the possibility of taxpayers losing Sh10 billion in unlawful tax exemptions related to oil importers.
What followed was an outburst from Kuria who used unprintable words on his Twitter account.
Kuria in a video that also went viral following the expose was heard cautioning any government agency from placing any advertisements with the Nation Media Group.
He further said any government employee going against such directives would face termination from their employment.