KTN now bars firebrand Tony Gachoka from JKL Live
The Kenya Television Network (KTN) has provisionally barred political commentator Tony Gachoka from appearing on its bi-weekly talk show Jeff Koinange Live.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the show’s host, renowned journalist Jeff Koinange, who emphasized that the decision had been made because of “public interest”.
“I need to inform you the station’s management has decided last week’s guest Tony Gachoka will not be appearing on this show for the foreseeable future. This decision has been made for the interest of the public,” Koinange said at the start of the show on Wednesday.
The decision to bar Gachoka from the show follows hard-hitting remarks he made last week in which he claimed President Uhuru Kenyatta was being held hostage by his deputy William Ruto on key decision.
Gachoka had also claimed that the coalition between URP and TNA is moribund and that the President could potentially lose re-election if he insisted on having William Ruto as his running mate.
These statements irked several Jubilee politicians.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen had tweeted; “Tony Gachoka is just but a messenger. Who are his masters? What’s their message? And Jeff Koinange is just but a commercial medium.”
Outrage on Tony Gachoka’s remarks compelled the show’s host Jeff Koinange to later apologise. He explained the show “wasn’t intended to cause grievance.”