Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has stirred fresh controversy after claiming that 20 National Intelligence Service (NIS) officers visited a local TV station to allegedly set up difficult questions designed to embarrass him during a planned interview.
According to insiders, Gachagua’s handlers had initially requested that the station’s host share advance questions to help him prepare and “avoid embarrassment before Kenyans.” However, the request was reportedly declined on grounds that it would compromise journalistic integrity and go against the practice of conducting authentic, unfiltered interviews.
Following the refusal, Gachagua’s communication team announced that the interview had been canceled, sparking public backlash. Critics accused the former DP of attempting to manipulate the media narrative and avoid being subjected to hard questions.
In response to the backlash, Gachagua’s team shifted its explanation, alleging that the real reason for the cancellation was the presence of 20 NIS officers at the station. They claimed the officers had briefed the technical crew and provided hostile questions meant to portray him negatively. The allegation, however, has not been independently verified and has been dismissed by media insiders as an afterthought.
Political analysts argue the saga reflects Gachagua’s growing unease with the press and raises concerns about his ability to withstand tough scrutiny. “This paints him as insecure and overly cautious. Leaders must be ready to face spontaneous questions because that is what earns public trust,” one analyst noted.
While the station has not issued a public statement, sources within it insist that editorial independence remains paramount and that no external influence dictates the line of questioning during such interviews.
