By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, June 30, 2026 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Tuesday accused President William Ruto's administration of orchestrating a coordinated campaign to intimidate journalists and cripple independent media houses ahead of the 2027 General Election, warning that the country was sliding towards authoritarianism.
Addressing a press conference at his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri County, Gachagua claimed the State was deliberately targeting journalists, editors and media organisations critical of the government in an attempt to shape the political narrative before Kenyans go to the ballot.
"We have had a bad pattern in Kenya that ahead of General Elections, journalists and bloggers get targeted by unpopular regimes that fear the power of the people at the ballot. Some journalists or bloggers are either disappeared, silenced, compromised or killed altogether," he said.
He alleged that journalists investigating corruption, abuse of the rule of law and misuse of public resources were operating under constant fear because they had refused to be intimidated or compromised.
"Journalists covering corruption stories, abuse of the rule of law, wanton looting of public resources and other beats... live under perpetual fear, intimidation and daily threats from the State machinery," he said.
Without providing evidence, Gachagua further alleged that the government intends to financially cripple some media houses through the Government Advertising Agency while slowing down and eventually shutting the internet during the August 2027 General Election.
"We are well aware and informed of Mr William Ruto's plans to shut down some media houses, cripple others through the Government Advertising Agency financially and slow down and eventually shut the internet on August 10, 2027," he claimed.
The former Deputy President cited the assault of a journalist during the June 25 protests in Nairobi, the alleged attempted abduction of a Standard Group associate editor in Nakuru, and threats against journalists working for Mediamax and Kameme FM as evidence of what he described as an escalating assault on press freedom.
He also criticised President Ruto over his recent public criticism of Standard Media Group following critical reporting, saying attacks on the press violated constitutional guarantees protecting media freedom.
"The media does not live under your mercy or privilege. If you think the media is your enemy, wait for August 10, 2027," Gachagua said.
Calling on journalists to remain steadfast, Gachagua urged media houses not to bow to political pressure despite what he termed increasing intimidation.
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"I call on all the media houses, the journalists and the editors to stand in solidarity with one another. Do not be cowed, do not be threatened or intimidated. Stand firm and speak the truth," he said.
He described the media as the country's final institutional safeguard after claiming other oversight institutions had been weakened.
"You have captured all institutions. You punctured the Opposition immediately after you got into power. Please leave the 55 million Kenyans with the media as their last line of defence," Gachagua said.
He urged the Kenya Editors Guild to protect editorial independence and asked international organisations defending press freedom to closely monitor developments in Kenya ahead of the elections.
"The Kenya Editors Guild must stand firm and protect editorial independence. Your members must be safe and their rights protected," he said.
Gachagua concluded by warning that suppressing the media would ultimately undermine democracy and the rights of all Kenyans.
"A society may endure without a government for a while, but no free society can endure without a free media... After this regime is done with the media, they will come for you," he said.