Are Kikuyu Media Sanitising Raila’s Presidential Bid?

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ODM leader Raila Odinga has become one of the most common faces and recognisable voices on the Kikuyu language radio and TV stations.

Over the last year, almost all the top Kikuyu language stations have hosted the former Prime Minister on their breakfast programmes.

However, yesterday, 27th August, was the mother of it all when all major Kikuyu TV and radio broadcasters sent their morning show presenters to Raila’s residence in the Karen suburb of Nairobi to interview him. Only President Uhuru Kenyatta has done that in the past.

The wide-ranging interview was aired live on Inooro TV, Inooro FM, Kameme FM, Kameme TV, Coro FM and Gukena FM between 7am and 9am.

He addressed various issues, including the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), his agenda for the Mt Kenya region, and, of course, the 2022 presidential race.

Pitching his bid to the Mt Kenya residents, the opposition chief said he would help the vote-rich region to regain its economic status.

“Kikuyu people are hardworking. All they need from the government is support and I’m ready to do that,” he said.

He also denied that there was bad blood between him and the Kikuyu people.

“What has been going on is propaganda. I don’t take it personally, My name had to be tarnished because I was running for President against their sons in 2007, 2013, and 2017.

“What many Kikuyu people don’t know is that I’m your in-law. My late son Fidel was married to a girl from Kiambu and my other son Junior has a wife from Murang’a,” he said.

Jitters

The frequent interviews have, however, raised eyebrows.

Supporters of Deputy President William Ruto believe this is a strategy by State House to market the ODM chief in an area that has traditionally voted against him.

Critics have also singled out two presenters, one from Kameme FM and the other from Inooro TV, whom they claim are being used by the “Deep State” to advance Raila’s agenda by painting DP Ruto in a bad light.

Recently, an MP (name withheld) who supports DP Ruto said Kameme FM would be closed as soon as he ascends to power.

He said the station, which is owned by the Kenyatta family, was too biased against the DP.

But people who support President Kenyatta and the ODM leader’s ‘Handshake’ have been celebrating the interviews.

State-allied bloggers have been portraying Raila as the better choice for the Mt Kenta region in next year’s presidential contest.

The post Are Kikuyu Media Sanitising Raila’s Presidential Bid? appeared first on LitKenya.

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