CNN International Correspondent Larry Madowo has alleged that a Nairobi politician offered a Ksh100,000 bounty to hire goons to attack him during the Saba Saba protests.

Madowo, who was on the ground covering the demonstrations in Nairobi, made the claims in a social media post on Sunday, asserting that he would not be silenced by threats.

“A Nairobi politician allegedly offered Sh100,000 to goons to attack me for doing my job. I was covering the Saba Saba protests, not participating in them. I will not be silenced,” Madowo wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

The journalist’s claims come amid growing concern over the safety of reporters during nationwide protests held on July 7, as Kenyans marked Saba Saba Day with mass demonstrations demanding justice, reforms, and government accountability.

Numerous journalists, particularly in Nairobi, reported cases of harassment, intimidation, and arrests while covering the protests.

Madowo, a respected Kenyan journalist working with CNN, did not reveal the identity of the politician allegedly behind the plot.

Despite the threats, he affirmed his commitment to continue reporting. Pro-government voices have since called for his arrest — a move widely criticized by media professionals and civil society groups.

As of publication, neither the National Police Service nor the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had issued an official response to Madowo’s allegations. No arrests have been reported.

The protests, which swept across several counties, were sparked by growing frustrations over economic inequality, rising cost of living, and perceived political exclusion.

The correspondent has been reporting from the frontlines of Kenya’s anti-government protests since they began last year.

From the early demonstrations over the high cost of living to the most recent Saba Saba unrest, he has covered events live from the streets of Nairobi, often in the midst of tear gas, roadblocks, and police crackdowns.

His reporting has captured the voices of young Kenyans demanding change, while also highlighting the growing risks faced by journalists.

Chriss Jaberry said, “We are with you 100%, Larry. You are a great professional — keep it up.”

He added, “If you were reporting in their favor, they’d probably offer you a job in the State House.”

Some human rights organizations allege that criminal gangs are sometimes hired by senior police officers or politicians to target peaceful demonstrators and journalists.

Foreign correspondents have also come under threat amid the ongoing unrest. During a press conference in Nairobi organized by “Kenyan Mothers” — a group advocating for an end to police brutality — armed intruders stormed the venue.

Among those present was Vegard Tjørholm, Africa correspondent for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), who witnessed the disruption firsthand.

According to Tjørholm, the assailants broke into the Kenya Human Rights premises by forcing open an iron gate. Though no injuries were reported, several laptops were stolen.

The attack, the scribe believes, was an attempt to intimidate activists and suppress civic organizing. The attackers reportedly arrived on motorcycles.

Meanwhile, most parts of the capital city and Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) was turned into a fortress with barricades and heavy police deployment.

In Kitengela, what began as peaceful demonstrations quickly spiraled into chaos as tensions flared between protesters and police.

Streets turned into battlegrounds as demonstrators lit bonfires, blocked major roads, and engaged in running battles with anti-riot officers. Tear gas filled the air while stones and makeshift weapons flew through the smoky skies.

Several businesses in the bustling town centre were forced to shut down as some shops were vandalized and looted in the mayhem.

Residents described the scene as one of the most intense confrontations Kitengela has witnessed in recent years, with the air thick with fear, anger, and resistance.

Protesters in Meru County overran police and set ablaze the popular Magunas Supermarket. Nearby, Seven Eleven Club was looted and vandalized. In Kirinyaga, demonstrators shattered the windows of Nice Supermarket, while in Nakuru, police repelled a mob attempting to storm a retail outlet.

Protests also erupted in Nyeri, Murang’a, and Kiambu, where demonstrators banged pots and waved placards demanding justice.

Media watchdogs and human rights groups have since the beginning of the protests called for thorough investigations into all incidents of violence, intimidation, and attacks on journalists.

They warn that without decisive action, Kenya risks sliding further into an environment hostile to press freedom and civic expression.