NAIROBI, Kenya — Veteran journalist Jeff Koinange made a surprise return to his flagship programme JKLive on Wednesday, December 10, ending a six-month absence that had stirred widespread speculation.
Stepping into the studio primetime slot hosted by newcomer Ayub Abdikadir and greeted by a warm welcome, Koinange addressed rumours that had proliferated on social media during his break.
“They had killed me. How?” he asked the studio audience in reference to unsubstantiated online claims. He added, “I’m back like I never left. It’s great to be back.”
For his first broadcast, Koinange hosted a conversation with prominent intellectual PLO Lumumba and journalist Barrack Muluka, resuming the show’s tradition of engaging high-profile voices in national discourse.
The return comes against a backdrop of mounting tension between media practitioners and political figures. A week earlier, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) condemned remarks by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua targeting journalist Stephen Letoo.
In a statement issued December 4, the MCK described Gachagua’s comments — in which he called Letoo “the worst journalist” and demanded his dismissal — as “utterly unacceptable,” arguing that such public attacks on individual reporters jeopardise their safety and amount to incitement.
MCK urged security agencies to offer protection to media workers, warning that sustained targeting could undermine press freedom.
Citing recent episodes of perceived bias and misreporting by media outlets during political events, Gachagua had singled out Letoo for what he described as “distorted reporting” following a church gathering in Kariobangi North.
According to Gachagua, Letoo allegedly mischaracterized law-enforcement intervention during violent episodes as simply “separating gangs.”
Observers say Jeff Koinange’s return — and the sharp condemnation from MCK — come at a pivotal moment for media freedom in Kenya.
With general elections approaching in 2027, the ability of journalists to operate without fear of retaliation may determine how effectively civil society and the public hold leaders accountable.
For many viewers, Koinange’s first show back provided a sense of continuity. For the media sector, it signals ongoing pressure to safeguard journalistic independence in an environment where political tensions and public scrutiny have grown more intense by the day.