Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria went berserk with attacks on a local media station, following a feature (Crooked cooking oil) that was aired, linking him to an illegal oil importation deal.

In a religious gathering in Embu, Kuria warned government institutions against advertising on the local media station that aired the exposé.

“Decide whether you are a newspaper, broadcasting media house or an opposition party. I have said from today, if I see any government institution advertising on this media station, you can consider yourselves jobless,” Kuria remarked.

In retaliation, Kuria also tweeted in mockery of the media house, stating that ‘advertisers that are allowed to advertisers on the said media station are only prostitutes.’

“Kwa wale malaya wa Aga Khan pale Nation Centre. You can still advertise auctioneers and funeral announcements. We will not stop those,” the tweet read.

Kuria’s scandal

The news story alleged that Kuria and his counterpart,  Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi, presented a brief during the first Cabinet meeting. The brief sort to import maize, cooking oil and other items, which according to Kuria was geared towards reducing the cost of living.

The expose, aired on the local media station Kuria is attacking, accuses claims that the corrupt deal saw individuals involved walking away with money to the tune of Ksh5.6 billion through tax evasion.

In their feature, the local media station alleged that Kenya National Trading Corporation imported the foodstuffs from companies that are linked to key government officials.

The importation deal was executed through a duty-free import and wrong gazette notice, leaving the importation companies pocketed Ksh5.6 billion.

Kuria is accused of engineering losses through tax evasion. The whole import plan was to generate about 76 million dollars through a waiver of taxes that KRA granted Kenya Trading Corporation.

In his speech in Embu, Kuria said that most ‘leaders in the current government have experienced poverty at a time in their lives, hence they can relate to the plight of the ordinary Kenyans.’

He also urged former President Uhuru Kenyatta to ‘not interfere with the current regime and to give them ample time to deliver as they allowed him.’

“Those whom you called trash, God cleansed them. We waited for our turn, despite his insults,” Kuria said.

Kuria also took the chance to thank the area Members of Parliament (MPs) for voting for the controversial Finance Bill and urged them to ‘finish the good work during the third reading of the bill without fear.’

“Don’t be shaken or threatened by anyone and if anyone dares to sell fear to you, just call me. I will deal with them, just how I used to before I got born again,” Kuria affirmed.