Media Council Condemns Gachagua’s Attack On Stephen Letoo,

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has strongly condemned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for publicly attacking Citizen TV reporter Stephen Letoo, cautioning that the statements were “reckless and dangerous.”

In a press statement released on Thursday, December 4, the council warned that a senior political figure singling out a reporter by name could potentially incite violence and place the journalist in severe personal danger.

“Singling out a journalist by name constitutes incitement and places him in grave personal danger,” the statement read, adding that such targeted attacks on individual journalists are “utterly unacceptable and pose a direct threat to their safety and lives.”

The MCK noted that such incidents are particularly concerning as the country approaches the 2027 General Elections, a period where media security and independence are crucial.

The Context of the Attack

The condemnation follows Gachagua’s remarks on December 3, where he labelled Stephen Letoo the “worst journalist,” accused him of bias, and called for his dismissal by Royal Media Services (RMS), the parent company of Citizen TV.

Gachagua’s criticism stemmed from Letoo’s report on a church incident where police allegedly lobbed teargas to separate rival political supporters during an event attended by the former Deputy President. Gachagua accused Letoo and other media outlets of reporting “outright lies and falsehoods.”

“I want to talk to Citizen TV. Stephen Letoo filed a very biased report on Sunday. And you were personally there,” Gachagua stated, later adding: “I am a fan of Citizen TV and RMS, but I want to report my disappointment with Letoo for that fake news filed on Sunday.”

Constitutional Mandate

In its response, the media council reminded all political actors that media freedom and the safety of journalists are rights enshrined in Article 34 of the Kenyan Constitution. The MCK also urged law enforcement agencies to provide necessary security for media workers experiencing risks.

The statement concluded with a stern reminder: “The media will not be silenced by intimidation. Those seeking public office must accept scrutiny rather than attempting to suppress it.”