Kenyan comedian and creative Eddie Butita recently found himself at the center of controversy following his interview with President William Ruto, sparking criticism from Kenyans on Twitter (KOT).
The backlash came after photos surfaced showing Butita alongside other journalists in an interview setup with the President, shortly after Ruto's widely-discussed interview with prominent media figures. In response to the criticism, Butita took to Twitter to clarify his stance:
“Now that many people are sending me this, let me address it. This is an interview just like the rest. These are different journalists from various digital media outlets. Is there a problem? Hakuna! You can’t bring down youths in the name of fighting for youths—double speak at its peak. SPM BUZZ was present, as well as Tuko, Kenyans, Uliza Link, among others. I see no issue with digital media entities conducting interviews just like mainstream outlets.”
The interview with President Ruto occurred shortly after Butita accompanied Ruto and his team on a trip to the United States, adding fuel to the online debate.
Reactions to the photos were mixed, with some urging Butita to focus on his work rather than addressing critics, while others expressed support for young journalists securing opportunities. One Twitter user commented, "Just do your work. No matter how hard you try to explain yourself, you can’t change a hater into a friend."
This incident highlights ongoing discussions about the role of digital media in traditional political coverage and the scrutiny faced by individuals navigating these spaces.
