Nairobi, Kenya – Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has once again taken a swipe at CNN international correspondent Larry Madowo, accusing him of habitually portraying Kenya in a negative light in his global reporting.
Speaking during a press conference on Thursday, June 27, Murkomen appeared to indirectly reference Madowo’s recent coverage of the anti-tax memorial protests in Nairobi, which aired globally on CNN.
“Some of the reporters are so happy… they think they have achieved because they are being cheered. So they think it is very nice to come and report about your country negatively,” Murkomen remarked.
While the CS did not name Madowo directly, the timing and context strongly point to the CNN journalist, whose on-the-ground coverage of the June 25 memorial demonstrations drew widespread international attention.
This is not the first public jab from Murkomen targeting Madowo. In April 2024, while still serving as Transport Cabinet Secretary, Murkomen criticized Madowo for documenting leaking roofs at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), calling it “sensational” journalism that embarrassed the country.
Larry Madowo, a former NTV anchor and BBC Africa Business Editor, has consistently reported on human rights, governance, and protests in Kenya. His recent pieces have focused on police brutality, youth-led demonstrations, and state accountability, often going viral both locally and internationally.
