Get used to it, Gachagua tells media

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua speaking during the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology 40th graduation ceremony. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has asked the media to get used to criticism from political leaders.

Rigathi who was speaking during the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology's 40th graduation ceremony said that what Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria did was to hold the media accountable as it should.

According to Gachagua, the Kenya Kwanza administration will be very vocal in calling out the media when they are wrong.

"For a long time, our friends in the media used to criticize us and we took the criticism. But things have changed. Now we are saying someone has to hold the media to account for the things they write. I am so happy how the media has reacted to the criticism," said Gachagua on Friday, June 23.

"We want to ask all the leaders in this country to join Moses Kuria to hold the press to accountable. They must be accountable for what they say and write. Everybody must be accountable for their actions. Hii ni Kenya mpya," he added.

Gachagua also asked the court to offer the same judgement as the one issued against Kuria if the media is ever taken to court for what they have published or said.

"The court was pursued to stop Moses Kuria from holding the press to account, I ask the court that when leaders go to court to stop the media, it should give the same orders."

His remarks come days after the media condemned altercations made by Moses Kuria towards the Nation Media Group.