CNN journalist Larry Madowo has responded to critics who stormed his inbox to chastise him and threaten him over an incident that occurred during the Thursday, June 27, 2024, anti-government protests.
In images shared by the vocal journalist, the critics had issued threatening messages, warning Madowo of impending danger should they meet him on the streets.
“Ww umeanza ujinga tutakupasua. We will deal with you,” one Juma MC wrote.
Another user identified as Kips Wily wrote; “We will deal with you umbwa wewe.”
In the incident, a section of bloggers and local journalists reporting the protests, blamed Madowo after he distanced himself from them when anti-riot officers asked if they were working together.
“Tumekuwa tumesimama na Larry pale, mimi ni journalist, alafu Larry ananitoka kwa Makarao anasema hatuwajui hao, na tulikuwa mbogi ya majournalist pale tunarecord. Makarao wanatufukuza ju ya Larry…..nimepigwa hapa na polisi ju ya Larry (I was standing over there with Larry, I am a journalist, but Larry set up me up to the police by saying he didn’t recognize us, yet we were a group of local journalists filming the protests. Police have chased us away because of Larry…They have beaten me up),” one of the bloggers, a youthful man was heard lamenting in a video shared by blogger Abraham Mutai.
While a section of X users condemned the journalist terming him a traitor, quarters defended him stating that the journalists should have been protected by their employers through effective identification including press cards.
Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly (MCA) Robert Alai also defended the celebrity journalist stating that he had done nothing wrong to warrant the attacks.
He additionally pointed out that in his capacity as a celebrity scribe, Larry has to build a thick shield around himself to protect himself against physical, psychological and any other kind of harm.
“I don’t see any wrong Larry Madowo committed in all the shared videos. Guys, do you know how hard it is to handle insecurity brought about by fame?” he posed.
He further warned critics against attacking him for no reason.
“You build a thick shield around you to protect yourself from physical, psychological and other kinds of harm. I feel for Larry. Don’t attack him for no reason. Nowadays everyone is a blogger or journalist in Kenya,” Alai added.
