Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has made explosive claims that President William Ruto's administration is behind a sustained crackdown on journalists and media houses, saying the attacks are meant to silence the press ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, Gachagua said Kenya is witnessing a worrying pattern of intimidation against journalists, bloggers and independent media outlets.
He claimed this trend is similar to what is happening in other East African countries, where governments are using heavy-handed tactics to control what the media reports.
The former deputy president did not hold back, accusing the government of targeting journalists who cover corruption, abuse of power and public accountability. He said these journalists are increasingly facing intimidation, threats and harassment for simply doing their jobs.
"I have been informed in confidence that some top journalists and editors have been marked for crackdown and silenced," Gachagua told reporters.
He warned that the government would be held responsible should any harm befall members of the press. "If anything happens to any journalist in Kenya, whether a foreigner or a resident, this government must account for it."
Gachagua cited specific incidents to back up his claims. He pointed to an event on June 25 where a journalist was allegedly assaulted by a police officer while covering protests in Nairobi.
He also claimed that on June 26, armed men believed to be police officers attempted to abduct Standard Group Associate Editor Nixon Kiplimo in Nakuru, though the attempt was unsuccessful.
The former deputy president also took aim at President Ruto directly, accusing him of attacking the editorial independence of the Standard Media Group.
This follows reports that the President had criticised the media house over stories that were critical of his administration. Gachagua described this as "an open defiance to truth and total war on the freedom of the media, as stipulated in Article 34 of the Constitution."
According to Gachagua, journalists attached to MediaMax have faced both physical and online harassment. He also alleged that journalist Muthoni Wakirumba received threats from political leaders.
He urged media houses, editors and journalists to remain united and protect their editorial independence despite what he called increasing pressure from the state. "We call on all media houses, journalists and editors to stand in solidarity with one another.
Stand firm and speak the truth for the people of Kenya. You are the last line of defence for Kenyans ahead of the 2027 General Election," he said.
Gachagua also condemned the recent suspension of media operations in Uganda, where military chief General Muhoozi Kainerugaba ordered the closure of several leading media outlets including NTV Uganda, Spark TV and Daily Monitor. He warned that attacks on press freedom across East Africa pose a serious threat to democracy in the region.
He called on the United Nations, international media freedom organisations and regional bodies to monitor developments in Kenya and Uganda and support journalists facing intimidation.
Gachagua maintained that freedom of expression and media freedom are protected under Articles 33 and 34 of the Constitution and urged Kenyans not to remain silent in the face of what he termed an assault on the media.
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