Ex-KTN Journalist, Jamal Gaddafi, has withdrawn from the Malindi Constituency parliamentary race.
Gaddafi announced that he met different stakeholders and persons of interest who advised him prior to stepping down.
“I have withdrawn my candidature for the Malindi MP race due to unavoidable reasons and after consulting widely," he stated on his social media pages.
Gaddafi left KTN Burudani in January 2022 to pursue his political interests.
He aspired to vie for the MP seat under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and campaigned side by side with ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Gaddafi is also a close ally of outgoing Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho who doubles up as ODM's Deputy Party Leader.
At Standard Media Group, he hosted and presented a show dubbed Mzuqa TV on KTN Burudani.
While exiting the station, Gaddafi shared a video in which he bid goodbye to the show’s producer and co-hosts.
“It’s time for a new adventure. Yesterday was my last show at KTN as I start a new chapter in politics,” he said.
The award-winning journalist had previously expressed confidence that he would fly the ODM ticket noting that he would give his rivals a run for their money for the party ticket.
“I know ODM is a democratic party which will conduct free and fair primaries in which I am confident I will emerge the winner,” he said at a previous presser.
Other journalists who quit to pursue politics include Felix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o, who left KISS FM in February, to vie for the Langata Parliamentary seat.
The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) issued guidelines that all media practitioners and journalists seeking to pursue seats in the next elections should resign 6 months before the general election.
In a statement issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) on February 1, Director General Ezra Chiloba added that media houses should ensure aspiring candidates resign by April 9.
He further added that the stations should ensure employees seeking elective seats or involved in political campaigns be barred from the day to day operations at the stations.
