CNN Correspondent Says Politician Hired Goons to Beat Him Up and Smash Equipment
CNN International Correspondent Larry Madowo has revealed disturbing details surrounding a planned attack on him during the Saba Saba protests in Kenya, claiming that a Kenyan politician hired goons and offered them an extra Sh100,000 to beat him up and destroy his equipment while he was covering the demonstrations.
Madowo, who did not attend the protests due to a prior international assignment in Enugu, Nigeria, said he received credible information — including on-camera confessions from the hired goons — that a politician had orchestrated a violent plot against him in retaliation for his critical reporting on police brutality and state-sponsored violence.
“A Kenyan leader has offered paid goons an extra Sh100,000 if they attack me while covering the protests; beat me up, and smash our equipment,” said Madowo in a video posted to his verified social media platforms.
Madowo: Goons Confessed on Camera Over Unpaid Past Jobs
According to Madowo, the plot was uncovered after the very individuals who were hired to harm him came forward and confessed, citing non-payment for previous protests as their motivation to speak out.
“They confessed to that on camera because they were not fully paid for the past protests,” Madowo disclosed.
He emphasized that the revelations are not mere speculation but are supported by visual evidence from his reporting team. However, he did not disclose the identity of the politician behind the plot, perhaps due to ongoing investigations or legal considerations.
Prior Commitment in Nigeria Kept Him Away from July 7 Protests
Madowo addressed speculation about his absence from the July 7 Saba Saba protests, a pivotal moment in Kenya’s ongoing wave of Gen Z-led demonstrations against corruption, police killings, and governance failures.
He clarified that his absence was not due to fear, but because he was fulfilling a previously scheduled assignment in Nigeria, which had been planned weeks earlier.
“That’s not the reason I’m not there today. I’m in Nigeria because we had planned this weeks ago. I could not cancel it. The job is international correspondent, not Kenyan correspondent.”
His social media activity confirmed that he arrived in Enugu State, Nigeria, on July 5, where he was working on international coverage unrelated to the protests in Kenya.
Calls for His Arrest from Pro-Government Social Media
Madowo also addressed rising threats and coordinated online campaigns calling for his arrest and criminalization of his journalism. He said several pro-government social media accounts and bots had falsely accused him of inciting violence, simply because he was reporting live from protest scenes in the past.
He claimed that a lawmaker even demanded his arrest, further escalating concerns over press freedom violations in Kenya.
“We will not be intimidated. Journalism is not a crime,” Madowo stated defiantly.
The threats echo a broader pattern of targeting journalists who cover state violence, with Madowo standing out as one of the most visible and vocal correspondents documenting the government’s response to the Gen Z movement.
Saba Saba Protests Turn Deadly
The July 7 protests, which coincided with the historic Saba Saba Day, were marred by violent confrontations, police crackdowns, and allegations of goon infiltration, many of whom are suspected to have political backing.
According to official police reports, the Saba Saba demonstrations resulted in:
- 11 civilian deaths
- 52 injured police officers
- Over 550 arrests nationwide
These protests came less than two weeks after the June 25 Gen Z-led uprising, which was ignited by the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang’ in police custody. An autopsy revealed Ojwang’ was strangled to death, contradicting police claims that he suffered fatal injuries after hitting his head on a wall.
Madowo: Press Freedom Under Threat in Kenya
Throughout the Gen Z protests, Madowo has played a high-profile role in reporting incidents of police brutality, goon attacks, and state intimidation tactics. His coverage, broadcast by CNN International, has given the world a window into the unfolding political unrest in Kenya.
But it has also made him a target of government hostility and online smear campaigns.
In response to these threats, global press freedom watchdogs like the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have repeatedly warned about rising hostility against journalists in Kenya, especially during political unrest.
“It’s deeply concerning that a journalist of Madowo’s calibre is being targeted for simply doing his job,” one observer noted on X (formerly Twitter).
The Gen Z Uprising and the Media’s Role
The Gen Z movement in Kenya, marked by digital mobilization and decentralized protests, has posed the greatest political challenge to the current administration since taking power. Young Kenyans have demanded accountability, transparency, and protection of fundamental rights — and journalists like Madowo have played a critical role in documenting their demands.
However, the government’s response has raised alarms:
- Excessive use of force
- Deployment of plainclothes operatives
- Use of paid goons to infiltrate protests
- Targeting and harassment of independent journalists
Madowo’s revelation that a politician allegedly hired goons to physically harm a CNN reporter could now become a defining moment in the conversation about media freedom in Kenya.
Kenyans React: #ProtectMadowo Trends Online
Following Madowo’s video statement, Kenyans on social media expressed outrage, with many posting messages of solidarity under the hashtag #ProtectMadowo and #JournalismIsNotACrime.
“This is outrageous! How can a country try to silence one of its most celebrated journalists?” posted one user.
Others called on the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Inspector General of Police to launch an investigation into the threats, stating that no journalist should live in fear for doing their job.
What’s Next for Madowo?
Although he continues to work from outside Kenya for now, Madowo made it clear that he intends to keep reporting, undeterred by threats, attacks, or political pressure.
“I’m not going to stop. I have a job to do. If that job makes some people uncomfortable, so be it. But I will continue to tell the truth,” he said.
His message has resonated globally, reminding the public that a free press is essential to democracy, especially in turbulent times.