Francis Gachuri was once seen as a respected journalist, known for his balanced reporting during his time at Citizen TV. Many Kenyans admired him for his professionalism and the way he tackled political matters without bias. He was the kind of journalist who earned public trust by sticking to facts and showing integrity.
But according to controversial and outspoken figure Maverick Aoko, Gachuri is no longer the man he used to be. Aoko claims that ever since he crossed over from the newsroom to the world of politics, things took a turn for the worse. She accuses him of becoming just another corrupt player in the political game, abandoning his principles for power and money.
A screenshot from maverick Aoko’s post on X.
Aoko didn’t hold back in her scathing remarks. She said plainly that Gachuri became a “mkora” which translates to somebody who’s not truthful, the moment he started working for politicians. And not just any politicians, but specifically for Kindiki Kithure, the current Deputy President. She painted a picture of a man who traded his journalistic values for political favour.
According to her, Gachuri now surrounds himself with low-level online mouthpieces who are struggling to survive even as they push state propaganda.
What’s more shocking is Aoko’s claim that the bloggers who work under Gachuri’s current political boss, Kindiki, are being exploited. These are the people who spend their days defending government blunders and attacking critics online.
But for all their effort, Aoko says they are only being paid 3,000 shillings a month. She described it as a joke and an insult, questioning how anyone could allow themselves to be used for such little pay. “Imagine supporting Gafment bullshit for 3k,” she mocked, adding a sarcastic laugh that underlines just how absurd she finds the whole situation.
Sentiments from a section of kenyans on X. (Courtesy Maverick Aoko)
The revelations point to a deeper rot in the political PR machinery, where people like Gachuri, who once held public trust, now allegedly exploit others to maintain their new image. These bloggers, often called by critics like Aoko, are said to be given the dirty job of spreading propaganda and defending poor policies online, while receiving crumbs in return.
Maverick Aoko’s statement is not just about Francis Gachuri. It is a bigger reflection of how the political system absorbs once-respected professionals and turns them into tools for manipulation. It also exposes the cheap, degrading labour behind the digital support that government officials enjoy.
A screenshot from the WhatsApp group maverick Aoko is alleging to be that if the bloggers running PR for Gachuri and Kindiki.
If what Aoko says is to go by, then it raises serious questions about Gachuri’s integrity and the treatment of those doing the groundwork behind the scenes.
