Murkomen, Madowo clash online over state of JKIA
Entertainment
By
Fay Ngina
| Apr 17, 2024
Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen and CNN international correspondent Larry Madowo engaged in a heated online exchange over the state of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Tuesday.
The disagreement started when Murkomen criticized Madowo for highlighting the airport's issues in a video, suggesting that Madowo only noticed the problems after living abroad for some time.
"I saw Larry taking videos at the airport. I was laughing because Larry had been with us in the country for the last 50 years when that airport was like that," Murkomen commented. "Suddenly because he lives in ‘majuu’ (abroad) his eyes are open and realises that there is no shade when you exit JKIA. It happens to all of us when we travel.”
Madowo responded, calling Murkomen's rebuttal "premium gaslighting, deflecting, and trivializing the issues."
Murkomen then advised Madowo against amplifying negativity, especially considering his significant online following.
"I don’t think our forefathers and my predecessors were mediocre. I believe they did what they could in the circumstances. When Mzee Jomo Kenyatta commissioned that airport in 1978 he must have looked at what he had made and it was very good. That’s what has served us for those years. What makes us different is that we celebrate our milestones even as we pursue excellence. We don’t just whine.," Murkomen said.
He then told Madowo to “Stop amplifying negatives and have a balanced attitude towards life and progress. Bro, being a recognized Kenyan working for top global media house comes with utmost responsibility. You and I already know we have our areas of improvement and that’s why people like me occupy such offices.”
In response, Madowo shared screenshots of Murkomen's past tweets criticizing JKIA's condition, highlighting what he saw as inconsistency.
Murkomen further responded by referencing Bible verses and continued to defend his stance on the airport's condition.
"You are still justifying your misdemeanors ? Bro you never get it. Read 1 Corinthians 13:11-12," wrote Murkomen, to which Larry responded by saying, “Just pointing out how you've changed because you and I were on the same page in 2014. Bro, you're the one who is still not getting it. Read James 1:5.”