Approximately 300 operatives associated with the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government have allegedly engaged social media influencers and bloggers in an attempt to discredit the Nation Media Group (NMG).
The accusations revolve around the media house’s continuous exposure of corruption, incompetence, and mediocrity within President William Ruto’s administration.
According to anonymous informers, bloggers were purportedly offered payments as low as Sh 200 to tarnish NMG’s reputation, which has been actively reporting on corruption scandals that have significantly impacted Kenyan taxpayers and exacerbated the high cost of living.
Nation Media Group, a conglomerate comprising the Daily Nation, Taifa Leo, Nairobi News, and NTV, has been at the forefront of investigative journalism, unveiling various controversies within the government.
The alleged orchestrated social media campaign aimed to ensure that NMG trends negatively under the hashtag Matope Media on Twitter.
Among the influencers involved, one using the moniker “Nakuru Mayor” accused Nation Media Group of bending to political and commercial interests.
The influencer claimed that NMG is facing allegations of biased reporting and ethical breaches. These accusations, however, lack concrete evidence and are yet to be substantiated.
Sunny Cate, another influencer involved in the campaign, wrote, “Ongoing scrutiny of Matope Media sparks conversations on the impact of media controversies on public trust, prompting reflections on strategies for news organizations to rebuild and maintain credibility.”
