Popular Kenyan journalist and CNN correspondent Larry Madowo has turned down requests for him to run for president of Kenya in the 2027 general election.
In response to an X user who suggested he should consider running for president, Madowo refused, despite encouragement from his followers.
“Has anyone thought about Larry Madowo being President of Kenya? He can be amazing,” the X user posited. To which Larry replied, “Immediately No!”
Madowo did not provide any clear reason behind his refusal but seemingly pointed out being on the receiving end of constant criticism, such as that directed to President William Ruto, as a cause for rejecting to vie.
“You elect me, and then little by little we hear Madowo Must Go?” the journalist posited.
The thought of Madowo vying for electoral office could be due to the role he has played in highlighting the inefficiencies of Ruto’s administration and being at the forefront of keeping the government in check over its activities.
Among other public interest conversations, he has shared numerous posts about the state of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) where he raised concern over leaking roofs and regular blackouts at one of the busiest airports in East and Central Africa.
His actions drew the attention of the government, with the then Transport and Roads Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen hitting out at the media personality. Madowo had questioned why the government had yet to build canopies to shelter those accessing various parts of the airport.
In response, Murkomen condemned the journalist for exposing the bad state, highlighting the need for him to focus on spreading positivity.
"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 abroad his eyes are open and realizes that there is no shade when you exit JKIA," Murkomen stated.
Aside from JKIA’s troubles, Madowo also gained popularity for alwayscovering anti government protests. Last year, Madowo came to Kenya to cover the anti-Finance Bill protests, capturing instances of police brutality in the protests.
After his coverage, Madowo reported receiving threatening messages from unknown individuals. In some of the messages, the unidentified individuals were insulting the renowned journalist without sharing the motive behind the threats.
Last month, Madowo, despite having logistical issues over his air travel in London, made it to the country in the nick of time to cover the June 25 protests. His arrival was met with a raucous welcome online, after many netizens had demanded he covers the much-anticipated protests.
While filming in the streets, Madowo seemed to receive a lot of love from the protesters, to the extent that he had to ask them not to crowd him, or the video quality of the stream would diminish.
However, this renewed his run-ins with the government, and ironically with CS Murkomen, now in his capacity as Interior CS, slammed Madowo and other Kenyan journalists from international media houses over their coverage of the protests.
While speaking during a press briefing after the June 25 commemorative protests on Thursday, Murkomen revealed that the international reporters are often careful while reporting on Western countries, but throw caution to the wind while in Kenya.
Despite the criticism, Madowo has maintained he would always remain objective and cover events as they happened, and not from a different lens.
