In an unprecedented show of professional solidarity, a coalition of media practitioners from Northern Kenya has boycotted a scheduled roundtable interview with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The journalists accused the embattled politician of peddling "divisive rhetoric" that threatens national cohesion, marking a new low in Gachagua’s relationship with the press.

The interview, slated for Thursday night, was intended to be a charm offensive by Gachagua, who has been attempting to rebuild his political base following his impeachment tribulations. However, the plan backfired spectacularly when the "Northern Kenya Media Practitioners" group issued a stinging statement cancelling the engagement, citing Gachagua’s recent attacks on the Somali community and Eastleigh business owners.

"We Will Not Amplify Hate"

"We cannot in good conscience provide a platform to a leader who profiles our community as criminals," the group stated. The boycott stems from remarks Gachagua made earlier this month, where he allegedly linked the economic success of Eastleigh—a hub of Somali enterprise—to money laundering and illicit trade. The journalists argued that giving him airtime would validate narratives that endanger their audience.

This is a significant blow to Gachagua, who has been trying to style himself as a victim of the system. By being de-platformed by regional media, he loses a critical channel to speak to the millions of voters in the North Eastern and Upper Eastern regions. It sends a message that the media in these regions are no longer passive conduits for Nairobi politicians.

• The Trigger: Gachagua's persistent framing of "shareholders" and his recent comments on Somali-owned businesses being "unexplained wealth."
• The Unity: The boycott involved radio stations, digital influencers, and print journalists from Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, and Marsabit.
• The Impact: The cancellation left Gachagua’s communications team scrambling, eventually forcing them to air a pre-recorded monologue on his personal social media channels instead.

The Danger of Ethnic Profiling

Media analysts have praised the move as a maturing of the Kenyan press. "Journalism isn't just about holding the mic; it's about protecting the public from hate speech," noted Dr. James Nugu, a media ethics scholar. The Northern Kenya region has long suffered from marginalization, and its leaders are increasingly sensitive to stereotypes that paint them as second-class citizens or security threats.

Gachagua’s strategy of mobilizing his Mt. Kenya base by creating "us versus them" narratives is facing diminishing returns. The "Mountain" might be listening, but the rest of the country is tuning out. This boycott is a warning shot: divisive politics might get you votes in one region, but it will get you silenced in another.

A Lonely Mic

As the political temperatures rise ahead of the 2027 cycle, the role of vernacular and regional media will be pivotal. The Northern Kenya boycott sets a precedent. Politicians who thrive on polarization may soon find themselves speaking only to their own echo chambers. For Rigathi Gachagua, the silence from the North is deafening.