Kenya’s Interior CS, Kipchumba Murkomen, has taken aim at international media outlets, accusing them of unfairly portraying the country during this week’s widespread protests.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Murkomen accused some foreign journalists of double standards, saying they report cautiously on protests in countries like the United States or the United Kingdom, but use a harsher lens when covering unrest in Africa.
“When they report about Israel, America, and the UK, they are very careful about their own countries,” Murkomen told reporters. “But when they come to our country, they report it as it is… Some even seem thrilled to be cheered on.”
His comments come in the wake of international attention on the youth-led demonstrations that swept across Nairobi and other towns on June 25. The protests, sparked by frustration over the Finance Bill and broader concerns about governance, drew large crowds and strong opinions.
While Murkomen questioned the motives behind foreign reporting, CNN international correspondent Larry Madowo, who was reporting from the ground, offered a different perspective.
“Thanks for the love,” Madowo wrote on social media. “I didn’t lose my phone or anything in this crowd. Not even the AirPods in my ears.”
His remark, both light-hearted and telling, suggested a level of discipline and calm among the protesters that contradicted some of the more alarming headlines circulating globally.
The sharp difference between Murkomen’s criticism and Madowo’s praise has reignited long-standing discussions around how Africa is framed in global newsrooms especially during crises.
Analysts and media experts have often pointed to the imbalance in how African protests are reported, with some saying Western outlets lean heavily into conflict narratives, sometimes at the expense of accuracy or context.
Still, others argue that local governments often deflect legitimate scrutiny by targeting the press.
“There’s a fine line between national dignity and media censorship,” said James Ochieng, a journalism lecturer at the University of Nairobi. “The truth must be told but it must be told fairly and without drama.”
As Kenya continues to grapple with political tensions and growing public discontent, the role of both local and foreign media remains under the spotlight. While the protesters demand transparency and change, the world is watching and so is the government.
