NAIROBI, Kenya- A public exchange between journalist Lynn Ngugi and political activist-turned-politician Morara Kebaso has sparked debate over political accountability and the balance between party loyalty and public criticism.
The discussion began after Kebaso shared a post on X questioning the ownership of several parcels of land, including Weston Hotel, land in Ruai and Kilgoris, and property allegedly acquired through the Agricultural Finance Corporation.
In the post, Kebaso questioned who chaired the Agricultural Finance Corporation when the title deeds were processed, without making further allegations.
Ngugi responded by saying she appreciated Kebaso for raising issues of public interest but questioned whether his recent decision to join the Jubilee Party was consistent with the principles on which he built his public profile.
She argued that Kebaso had earned public support by demanding accountability, transparency and integrity from those in power, and said those standards should apply equally to every political formation.
Ngugi said Jubilee’s time in government left unresolved public questions over issues such as public land, procurement and corruption allegations, adding that Kebaso should be willing to subject leaders within his own party to the same scrutiny he directs at political opponents.
She said accountability should remain consistent regardless of political affiliation and urged Kenyans not to place unquestioning faith in political personalities.
Kebaso defended his decision to join the party, saying politics requires engaging with existing political realities rather than remaining outside the system.
Responding to Ngugi, he argued that there is a difference between the ideal Kenya many aspire to and the country’s current political environment.
He said meaningful change requires participation in practical politics, likening it to rescuing a sheep stuck in mud by first stepping into the mud.
Ngugi later replied that joining a political party should not prevent leaders from publicly holding their own allies to account.
She challenged Kebaso to criticise senior Jubilee figures, including former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, with the same consistency he has shown when raising questions about leaders from other political camps.
According to Ngugi, failing to do so could create the perception that his commitment to accountability has become selective rather than principle-driven.
Kebaso subsequently acknowledged that joining a political party had changed his responsibilities.
He said he now considered it his role to market both the party and its presidential candidate, adding that he no longer enjoyed the freedom he had as an independent activist.
Kebaso said any concerns he may have about the party would be addressed internally through party structures rather than in public.
The exchange has generated extensive discussion on social media, with users expressing differing views on whether politicians can remain independent watchdogs after joining established political parties.
Some users agreed with Ngugi’s argument that accountability should apply equally across the political divide, while others supported Kebaso’s position that working within political parties is necessary to influence change.