Nyeri Journalists Irate After Gachagua Allegedly Incites Crowd Against Them

Rigathi Gachagua, Kenya Kwanza presidential running mate, offended Nyeri journalists on Monday.

The Mathira MP is said to have uttered remarks they said incited the people against them.

Reports indicate that after Gachagua’s address, members of the fourth estate hastily left out of concern that attendees would turn against them.

The gathering, called by Gachagua and attended by hundreds of Kieni community leaders, was intended to rally support for Njoroge Wainaina, a Kieni resident running for office.

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Gachagua stated that journalists were misrepresenting the truth and that UDA would still win without their help.

“You have recorded enough you news people. And don’t alter facts the way you always do. Do you know these people alter facts?” he posed.

“We shall win this election even without your help,” he added.

Gachagua said that the media had been twisting his words and reporting what suited their goal, going on to claim that if he won, he would build a home in Kakuret, Kieni.

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He told the media to go ahead and misinterpret what he said, saying the money he will use to build the house will be from his pocket.

Gachagua even went so far as to specifically name a journalist and the name of the local radio station (Kameme FM), noting that its Nairobi presenters are invariably prejudiced.

“But we know the radio station is owned by Uhuru Kenyatta’s family. Or don’t you know that?” he posed.

“These people attack Rigathi Gachagua every morning. But they will take us nowhere; we shall beat them in the elections.”

Read Also: Gachagua Under Fire For Uttering Offensive Words in Church

The alliance has in the recent past accused the media of being biased.

On July 15, the DP William Ruto-led coalition bashed the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) after releasing a report indicating that journalists preferred covering Raila Odinga, of Azimio la Umoja.

Hussein Mohamed, the director of communications for the WSR Presidential Secretariat, accused the media oversight organization of prejudice in its report and added that MCK had not shown any evidence to support its assertions.

Hussein urged the MCK to concentrate on its responsibility for overseeing the media and urged its leadership to refrain from publishing unverified allegations.

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“Reports have shown the coverage the other team is enjoying. It is interesting, funny and unbelievable that the MCK did not see a problem with that.

“Without any report or statistics, they said that the numbers have changed and with an obsession with polls, the MCK went ahead and did a poll on which campaigns journalists would like to cover. Really? Is that what you are supposed to do?” wondered Hussein.