CNN journalist Larry Madowo is not backing down from online critics following the controversy over his attendance at Charlene Ruto’s koito, and a recent social media exchange made that very clear.
On 1 September, Madowo posted a Swahili message on X suggesting he was considering calling someone to ask for a favour, in response to a user who had shared an image of a Kenyan government aircraft and jokingly asked whether his friend could lend it for a day.
Madowo’s reply was playful and tongue-in-cheek, but it quickly drew fresh attention to the ongoing debate about his ties to the political establishment.
Madowo shuts down online critic
When another user, @FlyingeagleKe, responded to a separate sarcastic post Madowo made with the words:
“You lost our respect.”
The journalist was unsparing in his reply.
“I’m going to hold your hand when I tell you this: I don’t care,” he wrote, refusing to engage further with the criticism.
The exchange reflects the sustained pressure Madowo has faced since he showed up at the koito of President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene.
For many Kenyans who associate Madowo with hard-hitting journalism and coverage of anti-government protests, the appearance felt like a contradiction.
Critics questioned how a journalist known for scrutinising political power could simultaneously maintain social ties with the president’s family.
I’m going to hold your hand when I tell you this: I don’t care https://t.co/1YL63iH9IS
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) September 1, 2026
