Donald Kipkorir Weighs In on Trevor Ombija-Gachagua Controversy
City lawyer Donald Kipkorir has criticised Nyakach parliamentary aspirant Trevor Ombija over his claim that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua attempted to have him fired from Royal Media Services (RMS).
Ombija, a Citizen TV journalist seeking to enter elective politics, made the claim while addressing residents in Nyakach on September 18. He linked the alleged attempt to a heated interview he had with Gachagua earlier in the year.
However, RMS Group Editorial and Strategy Director Linus Kaikai subsequently disputed the claim, saying Gachagua had not made any call seeking Ombija's dismissal.
Kaikai said he had spoken to Ombija after the remarks became public and that the journalist described them as a mistake and expressed regret. He further said Ombija told him he had not expected the remarks to attract attention.
Kipkorir weighed in on the controversy, sharply criticising Ombija's decision to make the allegations while campaigning for political office.
"What Trevor Ombija said was beyond the pale … it’s truly sad that a young person would want to win votes by concocting falsehoods to whip up Luo hatred of Kikuyu!" Kipkorir said.
The lawyer further accused Ombija of dragging RMS into the political controversy despite the media organisation having provided him with a platform during his journalism career.
"He even tribalized a media station that gave him a public platform," Kipkorir said.
Kipkorir also invoked a principle he said he has consistently advocated for regarding former employers and professional relationships.
"I have always said you don’t throw your first employer under the bus!" he stated.
His comments came after Kaikai's clarification effectively challenged the account presented by Ombija. According to Kaikai, there was no call from Gachagua to RMS seeking Ombija's removal, and such a request would not have been worthwhile at the media organisation.
Kipkorir went further in criticising what he described as an attempt to create ethnic tension for political purposes.
"In attempting to create Luo-Kikuyu animosity, Ombija sank to the Hades!" he said.
The controversy comes as Ombija transitions from journalism into active politics and seeks the Nyakach parliamentary seat ahead of the 2027 General Election.
His remarks about Gachagua have since attracted scrutiny after the RMS editorial chief publicly rejected the claim.
Ombija's reported admission, as relayed by Kaikai, has added another dimension to the dispute, with the journalist said to have acknowledged that the remarks were a mistake and expressed regret.