MCK Raises Alarm Over Intimidation After Gachagua Accuses Journalist of Bias
Gachagua’s outburst was based on a report aired on Citizen TV after chaotic scenes at a thanksgiving ceremony for the newly elected Kariobangi North MCA on November 30.
Media Council Of Kenya.Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
The Media Council of Kenya has sharply castigated former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over what it described as a public attack on Citizen TV reporter Stephen Letoo, warning the conduct amounts to intimidation and endangers the safety of journalists. Gachagua accused the reporter of biased reporting while addressing his supporters on December 3 and went further to ask Royal Media Services to sack him.
In a strongly worded statement, MCK denounced the utterances as “irresponsible and injurious,” coming as they are from a senior politician. The Council warned that publicly naming and discrediting individual journalists puts them in danger, especially since the political temperature has already risen ahead of the 2027 polls.
“Publicly naming a journalist is deplorable. It sets an atmosphere of fear and puts the targeted reporter in the crosshairs of physical attack. This is even more worrying in the wake of increased insecurity recorded at political rallies, church functions, and other public meetings,” said the council.
Gachagua’s outburst was based on a report aired on Citizen TV after chaotic scenes at a thanksgiving ceremony for the newly elected Kariobangi North MCA on November 30. During his December 3 address, Gachagua accused Letoo of misrepresenting events and termed him “the worst journalist,” stating that the coverage was slanted against him. According to Gachagua, Letoo’s report did not reflect how church members were forced to drive away attackers who disrupted the service.
As the political temperatures gather momentum in the run-up to the 2027 General Elections, MCK called on leaders to leave media professionals alone, who have an indispensable duty to inform the public. The council said journalists are constitutionally allowed to question those in authority, and critically analyze their actions and report actual facts without interference.
“It is deeply concerning when leaders who portray themselves as defenders of democracy choose to intimidate journalists or push for their dismissal simply because they carried out their professional duties. Such actions must be firmly rejected,” the statement read.
MCK reminded all political actors that freedom of the press is guaranteed under Article 34 of Kenya’s Constitution and is a cornerstone of democratic governance. The council demanded that all leaders, whether current or former, immediately stop any form of harassment, threats, or provocations targeting media workers.
It further urged law enforcement agencies to increase security for journalists who could be exposed to growing risks as the election period approaches. In fact, as MCK put it, “The media cannot and will not be coerced into silence. Whoever seeks leadership should be ready to be subjected to public scrutiny rather than trying to muzzle it.
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