Kenyan media personality Oga Obinna has claimed that he was warned of possible harm following his widely discussed interview with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Speaking during The Obinna Show Live, he said several people alerted him that unnamed individuals were unhappy with the interview and might target him.

The interview, which aired in mid-May, drew national attention for its blunt political exchanges and pointed criticism. Mr Obinna now says the reaction went far beyond public debate.

“After interviewing Riggy G, there are some people who wanted to do me bad,” he told viewers. He described one warning as coming from a source he considered “very credible.”

He further said he was informed that President William Ruto allegedly intervened on his behalf. According to him, the message was relayed through an “external party” present during the supposed conversation.

“The person who stopped them was the President,” he claimed. He added that he was told the President urged restraint, reportedly saying: “Hakuna kitu amefanya mbaya… nobody should touch him.”

Mr Obinna did not give the names of the individuals who allegedly posed a threat, nor did he identify the people who warned him.

A Warning From a Senior Journalist

Before learning of the alleged intervention, he said he received a call from a prominent media figure he had never spoken to before.

“He told me I should be careful,” he said. According to Mr Obinna, the caller warned him about a “rogue individual” and advised him to limit unnecessary movements.

He said the warnings came from people he considered trustworthy, but stressed that he did not know the motives of those allegedly involved.

None of the claims have been publicly addressed by State House, Mr Gachagua or officials linked to the allegations.

Public Debate and Questions Over Media Safety

The revelations sparked wide discussion online, with many Kenyans questioning why the interview would provoke such tension, and what might have upset the unidentified individuals.

Some viewers applauded Mr Obinna for speaking up. Others urged caution, calling for formal investigations or verification before drawing conclusions.

The claims add to ongoing concerns about the safety of journalists, commentators and digital creators who engage with political content. Kenya has witnessed rising political polarisation in recent years, and media rights groups have consistently called for stronger protections for those conducting high-profile interviews.

Why the Interview Drew Strong Reactions

The conversation with Mr Gachagua was one of the most talked-about interviews of the year, largely because of its direct tone and several striking statements made by the former deputy president.

Among the key moments were:

• Revisiting Treasury claims: Mr Gachagua said the government found the Treasury strained, but not empty, contradicting earlier public remarks.

• Accusations of manipulation: He alleged that President Ruto used emotional appeals to secure his political support, saying the relationship later deteriorated.

• Warnings of post-election unrest: He cautioned that mismanagement by the electoral commission could spark widespread violence in 2027, saying past unrest would “look like a Christmas party.”

• New political direction: He spoke about his new party, Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), positioning himself as independent of former allies.

The interview generated political ripples, but Mr Obinna’s latest claims suggest the fallout may have extended beyond political debate.

What remains unclear is whether any formal action has been taken regarding the alleged threats, and whether the authorities will respond to the concerns raised.