CS MURKOMEN CRITICISES CNN JOURNALIST LARRY MADOWO OVER NEGATIVE REPORTING ON KENYA

Interior Cabinet Secretary Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen has publicly criticised CNN journalist Larry Madowo, accusing him of consistently portraying Kenya in a negative light. 

The remarks came a day after Madowo covered the memorial demonstrations in Nairobi, which drew widespread attention. Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, CS Murkomen suggested that some journalists take pride in negative portrayals of the country, stating, “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.”

This is not the first time Murkomen has openly criticised Madowo. In April 2024, while serving as Transport CS, Murkomen dismissed Madowo’s coverage of leaking roofs at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), implying that the journalist only noticed the airport’s shortcomings after relocating abroad.

“I saw Larry taking videos at the airport. I was laughing because Larry was with us in the country for the last 50 years when that airport was like that. Suddenly, because he lives in ‘majuu’ (abroad), his eyes are open, and he realizes that there is no shade when you exit JKIA. It is not news that JKIA does not have a canopy for shielding passengers; it is a fact,” Murkomen said at the time.

He further defended the government’s progress, promising that by the next elections, JKIA would have a new terminal, positioning Kenya as a competitive aviation hub.