David Mugonyi was once a respected name in Kenya’s journalism world. He started from the bottom, working hard as a reporter, then moved up to become a senior editor. His stories were bold and honest, especially when it came to politics.
Many Kenyans trusted his reporting because it felt raw and truthful. Back then, he stood for press freedom, and even younger journalists looked up to him. His rise in the media also helped him build strong political links, which later opened doors to high-level government positions.
But today, that image has changed completely. Mugonyi is now the Director General of the Communications Authority, a powerful position that controls how information flows in the country.
Recently, he made headlines again but not for journalism. He directed local TV stations to stop airing live coverage of the nationwide protests happening across Kenya.
This move angered many people. Journalists, human rights groups, and ordinary Kenyans saw this as a serious attack on freedom of the press.
People who worked with him in the past say they’re not surprised. Some believe the change in Mugonyi’s behaviour didn’t happen overnight. Over the years, he slowly moved away from being a voice for the people to becoming a defender of the government.
The media ban during the protests was the final proof that something had gone wrong. It confirmed fears that Mugonyi, once a media warrior, now works to silence it.
A senior journalist told The Standard that Mugonyi’s deep understanding of how the media works actually makes him more dangerous. He knows how to control the narrative and how to cut off coverage in ways that are hard to fight.
This has made many people feel betrayed. On social media, Kenyans are posting messages asking how someone who once protected press freedom is now leading efforts to kill it. They feel that Mugonyi turned his back on the values that shaped his career.
Now his legacy is under serious question. Instead of being remembered as a voice for truth, he is being seen as someone who helped weaken it.
Whether he is following state orders or acting on his own, Mugonyi is no longer viewed as a journalist by many. He is being called a tool for censorship in a time when Kenyans are demanding more openness, not less.
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