CNN Journalist Larry Madowo during June 25 anniversary protests. Photo: CNN.
CNN international correspondent Larry Madowo has raised serious concerns and threats against his life from senior government officials while covering protests.
Speaking from Nigeria, Madowo said that the goons confessed that they were promised an additional KSh 100,000, if they attack and rough him on live camera while covering the Gen Z protests. The goons according to him confessed after they were not paid for failing to attack him during June 25 anniversary protests.
‘A Kenyan leader has offered to pay goons an extra KSh 100,000 if they attack me while covering protests, beat me up, smash our equipment and they confessed it on camera, because they were not fully paid for last protests,” Madowo revealed.
He further disclosed that pro-government social media users have been calling for his arrest for inciting protesters to violence, with another back up call from a member of parliament he did not disclose, also calling for his arrest.
Madowo maintained that he will not be intimidated, as journalism is not a crime, further emphasizing that what was covered during protests was showing Kenyans the truth and calling out rampant police brutality witnessed in the country recently.
“some pro-government accounts on social media are calling for me to be arrested for inciting people to violence, even though all we have done is report what’s going on, call out police brutality and show the people the truth. In fact one lawmaker has also called for me to be arrested. We will not be intimidated , Journalism is not a crime,” he emphasized.
He clarified that the threats from government officials is not the reason he missed out Saba Saba protests, as he is on an international assignment in Nigeria, that he had been planned for months. He further reminded the leaders that he is not a Kenyan correspondent, but international correspondent.
“That is not the reason why I’m not there today, I am in Nigeria because we had planned this weeks ago, I could not cancel, and the job is international correspondent, not just Kenya correspondent,” he clarified.
Madowo has been covering protests since they began in June 2024, and grew a favorite among Gen Zs, who always called on him to come and cover them as they advocate for better leadership and governance, as well as an end to police brutality.
