𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐮𝐭? 𝐋𝐲𝐧𝐧 𝐍𝐠𝐮𝐠𝐢 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐨’𝐬 𝐊𝐨𝐢𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

Journalist and media personality, Lynn Ngugi, has criticised CNN international correspondent Larry Madowo after he attended the traditional marriage ceremony of President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto.

The ceremony, commonly known as Koito, was held in Kilgoris, Narok County, where Charlene was formally introduced to Tanzanian entrepreneur Isaya Yunge.

The event drew public attention after Madowo shared photographs from the ceremony and congratulated the couple.

In his post, Madowo referred to Yunge as his “little brother” and welcomed him to the family.

Madowo’s presence at the ceremony sparked debate,

particularly among Kenyans who have followed his coverage and commentary on government and political affairs.

Lynn Ngugi questions political consistency

Lynn criticised Madowo’s decision to attend the ceremony, arguing that it was difficult for her to reconcile his participation with his previous public stance on political change.

In an X post, Ngugi said she found it painful to see people she believed were part of a movement for change later interact comfortably with people they had previously criticised.

“I think the most painful part about fighting for change is watching people you genuinely believed were part of the movement slowly water it down, shake hands with murderers, laugh with them, sit comfortably around the very oppressors they once condemned, then come back with all sorts of explanations and excuses for why they were there, why it was necessary and why we shouldn’t read too much into it. And you’re left wondering, was any of this ever real, or were some of these people simply well calculated psyops from the very beginning?And then you find yourself asking an even harder question, are the lives we lost not personal to you? Because for some of us, they are. We remember the young people who lost their lives fighting for a better country, the families that had to bury their children, the blood that was spilled, and maybe that’s why it’s so difficult to understand how someone who stood beside you through all of that can suddenly sit comfortably, laugh and shake hands with the very people we were fighting against.And somewhere along the way, you begin to understand why people like Patrice Lumumba, Dedan Kimathi, Thomas Sankara and so many other African heroes were killed so brutally. It wasn’t always because they didn’t have people around them. Many did. The problem was that some of the very people they believed they were fighting alongside had already sold out long before the fight was over.”Lynn wrote.

She questioned whether some of the political positions held by public figures had been genuine, particularly when relationships with people in power appeared to change.

Lynn Ngugi also referred to the deaths of young Kenyans during recent political protests, saying the losses remained personal to some families.

Her remarks triggered a wider political debate online, with some users supporting her position while others defended Madowo’s right to attend a private family occasion.

“Were you in Kenya in 2017/ 2018 when the regime then mercilessly slaughtered so many Kenyans dumping some bodies in the lake or you were born after 2022 ?” One person commented

Madowo responds

Madowo, who is an international correspondent with CNN, appeared to acknowledge the controversy in a series of posts.

In one post, he said he was not an influencer, while in another he described his response as “rage bait” and joked that people discussing him in his comments could help him make money on X.

“And yes, this is rage bait. Talk about me in my own comments so I can make that Elon money one last time. I have school fees to pay.”

He also shared a photograph from the ceremony showing himself with Yunge and Charlene.

Madowo’s description of Yunge as his “little brother” points to a personal relationship between the two, providing context for his attendance at the family event.

Mutunga joins the debate

Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga also weighed in on the controversy.

Responding to Lynn Ngugi’s post, Mutunga said he shared her concerns about political integrity and argued that personal and political principles should remain important even when circumstances change.

“What is well said by another is also mine. You are not alone in this great reflection and realization. Integrity in ideology and politics is priceless because we love the Motherland. Let’s expect these surprises upfront in our movements and political parties. And resist them.”

Mutunga wrote that “integrity in ideology and politics is priceless,” while calling for resistance to political opportunism.

The former Chief Justice has previously been outspoken on issues of governance, constitutionalism and political accountability.

Who is Isaya Yunge?

Yunge is a Tanzanian technology entrepreneur and social innovator.

He founded SomaApp, a platform designed to help students find scholarship opportunities, and has been recognised for his work supporting young people.

His professional profile shows that he has worked in technology and social entrepreneurship and has received international recognition, including the Queen’s Young Leader Award.

The controversy surrounding Madowo’s attendance has therefore shifted attention from the private family ceremony to a broader conversation about journalism, political relationships and whether public figures can separate personal friendships from their public positions.