Mashirima Kapombe Loses Cool On Air, Fires Back at Senator Cherargei Over Activists’ Torture
Soft-spoken Swahili news anchor Mashirima Kapombe momentarily lost her composure during Monday’s live broadcast, reacting sharply to remarks by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei about the abduction of two Kenyan activists in Uganda.
Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo were seized by Ugandan security forces while attending an event hosted by opposition leader Bobi Wine. The two were held incommunicado for 38 days before being released on November 8 — sparking both relief and anger across Kenya.
While many Kenyans condemned the detention and accused President Yoweri Museveni’s government of violating human rights, Senator Cherargei appeared to celebrate the ordeal. Speaking at a church service, he praised the Ugandan and Tanzanian leaders for taking action against Kenyan activists.
“I want to ask President Samia Suluhu and President Yoweri Museveni, if you catch any busybody Kenyan activists trying to destabilise Tanzania or Uganda, finya wao, then return them home we finish them,” Cherargei declared.
When the clip was played during Citizen TV’s afternoon bulletin, Kapombe sat silently for a few seconds. Visibly taken aback, she then delivered a measured but stinging response.
“Matamshi mengine saa zingine yanakukumbusha kwamba ukisalia kimya unaonekana mwerevu zaidi,” she said — loosely translating to, “Some utterances remind you that when you keep quiet, you appear more intelligent.”
Her reaction mirrored the frustration seen online, where Kenyans expressed outrage over the senator’s comments. One user wrote, “Loose mouths like Samson Cherargei are doing more harm to this government than good.” Another group, Kongamano La Mapinduzi, accused the senator of undermining democracy and regional solidarity.
This is not the first time Cherargei has faced backlash for controversial remarks. In 2022, he defended Tanzanian authorities after Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire were detained, saying the arrests helped “instil discipline.”
Despite repeated criticism, Cherargei has remained unapologetic — a stance that continues to divide public opinion.
Mashirima Kapombe Loses Cool On Air, Fires Back at Senator Cherargei Over Activists’ Torture