CNN journalist Larry Madowo has found himself at the center of controversy and danger following his coverage of the anti-government protests that rocked Kenya on Thursday, June 27, 2024.
The protests, which were against the Finance Bill 2024, saw thousands of Kenyans taking to the streets in Nairobi and other major towns, culminating in a violent confrontation with the police.
Madowo, a prominent figure in the media, faced a barrage of criticism and threats after an incident where he was accused of distancing himself from local journalists and bloggers during the protests.
In a video shared by blogger Abraham Mutai, one journalist claimed that Madowo disassociated himself from them when questioned by anti-riot officers, which allegedly led to the police targeting and assaulting them.
“I was standing over there with Larry, I am a journalist, but Larry set me up to the police by saying he didn’t recognize us, yet we were a group of local journalists filming the protests. Police have chased us away because of Larry…They have beaten me up,” the blogger lamented.
The backlash against Madowo escalated when he shared screenshots of threatening messages he had received from anonymous individuals. The messages, filled with violent rhetoric, warned him of impending danger.
One message from a user identified as Juma MC read, “Ww umeanza ujinga tutakupasua. We will deal with you.” Another from Kips Wily threatened, “We will deal with you umbwa wewe.”
Despite the threats, Madowo remained resolute, taking to social media to express his unyielding stance. “I am unbwogable,” he wrote, a phrase that translates to “I am unbowed and remain unshaken.”
His defiant response garnered widespread support from netizens, who vowed to protect him and urged him to continue his courageous coverage of the ongoing political turmoil.
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