2016 was a year when a lot of drama was witnessed across various sectors in the country especially in the political field and media industry.
In the media, here are some of the most dramatic TV interviews of 2016 as compiled by Kenyans.co.ke.
1. Betty Kyalo and Rapper Prezzo
In January 2016, KTN News Anchor Betty Kyalo hosted Jackson Makini, popularly known as Prezzo, for an interview that she would later describe as 'the most difficult interview she had ever conducted'.
During the interview Prezzo got cocky and began making suggestive gestures at Ms Kyallo who had at the time just wedded.
The show sparked outrage on social media with many Kenyans condemning the singer for his behaviour.
2. Miguna Miguna –Esther Passaris
During this interview on Jeff Koinange Live (JKL) show in November, Canadian-based lawyer Miguna Miguna and businesswoman Esther Passaris, who are both eying the Nairobi gubernatorial seat, engaged in a verbal exchange characterised by sexual insults.
The interview was greatly condemned with the host, Jeff Koinange, being blamed for allowing Miguna to insult Passaris. Amid the outrage sparked by the Miguna-Passaris interview, KTN terminated its contract with the JKL show.
3. Jeff Koinange –Boniface Mwangi
Still in November, and just before the Miguna Passaris interview, drama unfolded on Jeff Koinange’s show after he supposedly set up activist Boniface Mwangi on Live TV.
Koinage had promised to host Mwangi alone on the JKL show, only for Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria to appear and walk into the set.
The activist bravely walked out leaving Koinange pleading with him to stay.
4. Larry Madowo –Moses Kuria
On June 18, 2016, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria forced NTV Journalist Larry Madowo to apologise to him during a Live TV interview that was largely criticised on social media.
Madowo, who had apparently insisted on hosting the controversial lawmaker, was accused of being ‘biased and unprofessional’ during the show.
The interview took a chaotic turn when Madowo began delving into previous incidents where the Gatundu South MP had been accused of incitement to violence and even inaccurately cited that Kuria had four pending cases.
Kuria seized that moment to demand an apology, threatening to take legal action against the news anchor.
5. Raila Odinga –Aljazeera’s Mehdi
In this 47-minute interview that happened in May, Opposition leader Raila Odinga was put on the hot seat by Aljazeera journalist Mehdi Hasan who asked some rather tough and uncomfortable questions.
They included Raila's role in the 2007/08 post-election violence, rigging of elections in Kenya, his alleged relationship with US President Barack Obama among others.
6. Lupita Nyong’o – Larry Madowo
After this October interview, award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o was accused of having a poor attitude towards African journalists and always being bubbly in her appearances on American stations.
In his recent column on the Nation, Madowo acknowledged that this was actually one of the nasty interviews he conducted in 2016.
“The interview ended abruptly when I asked about reports that she was a prima donna and I was ushered out without a picture,” Madowo stated in reference to the interview.
7. Boniface Mwangi - Charles Owino.
During this interview in October, police spokesman Charles Owino entered into a heated confrontation with activist Boniface Mwangi on NTV ‘s morning show, AM Live.
In the discussion on police killings in the country, an outspoken Mwangi openly accused the police of killing citizens highlighting that the crimes were always swept under the carpet.
The police spokesman got agitated and rose from his seat as if threatening to attack Mwangi.
8. Deputy President William Ruto on K24
Apart from DP Ruto being asked some tough questions during this interview in September, more attention was given to his now-routine reference “My Friend”.
A keen Kenyan compiled a clip showing that Ruto called the interviewer “My Friend” 21 times.
