It is not everyday that you get to see an elected official questioned by their spouse in a television interview over various projects they are undertaking and their progress in fulfilling promises to the electorate.
At vernacular station Baite TV which targets Meru-speaking viewers, however, this scenario has been witnessed, as Murega Baicu, an anchor, musician and pastor, co-owns the station with his wife, Meru Woman Representative Kawira Mwangaza.
The couple takes on several roles at the station, and together host 'Baite Family Sunday Live Service' every Sunday, with Murega, an astute guitar player, delivering music and sermons, and Kawira often preaching as well.
Murega also hosts various programs on the show, including a news bulletin covering various happenings in Meru County. On occasion, Mwangaza appears on-air by herself, particularly when she has a point to make.
On April 25, for example, after Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi went viral after being pictured addressing a large gathering with little regard to social distancing, Kawira took to Baite studios to demand his arrest.
"First, he needs to be taken to court like anyone else who has broken the law. The second thing is that Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi should be taken into forced quarantine.
"I have seen so many of our young hustlers and sufferers brutalised by police for curfew, many are in hospitals and homes with injuries, churches are closed and pastors have followed the directive. Why can't Kiraitu follow the law?
"I want to ask CS Kagwe who arrested those who scaled fences and escaped quarantine, can't you find Kiraitu? Come and I will show you where he is," she asserted.
Interestingly, Murega also works as Mwangaza's personal assistant and was deeply involved in her campaigns for the seat in 2017.
While the station has several loyal viewers, some have criticized the channel for allegedly being used to fight Kawira's political battles.
With Kawira said to be eyeing the Meru Gubernatorial seat in the 2022 General Election, she has been accused in some quarters of using the channel to fight Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi.
On April 29, Murega presented a report on the station claiming that Kiraitu had issued threats to the station over their coverage of the county government's activities.
Baite TV, however, remains popular with some viewers in Meru, Embu and Tharaka-Nithi for its coverage of local news often overlooked my mainstream TV stations.
Watch Murega presenting a report on the station below:
