President Uhuru Kenyatta was on Tuesday inadvertently caught on camera admitting that Citizen TV political affairs reporter Jacque Maribe was his favourite journalist.
A video shared by Director of Digital Communications at State House Dennis Itumbi captured the President greeting journalists and media personalities who had attended a State dinner organised in honour of visiting South African President Jacob Zuma.
When the President got to Ms Maribe and oblivious of Itumbi’s camera, he warmly greeted her, “how is my favourite reporter?”.
The conversation was not fully audible from that point but Maribe had a hearty chat with Kenyatta, with the Kenyan president going to the extent of introducing the political news reporter and her colleagues to President Zuma.
The revelation may not be a surprise to many given that in the last three years, Maribe holds the record of being the only journalist who has had two exclusive interviews with the fourth President of Kenya.
Her interviews have not only focused on the formal administrative issues but have also provided a rare opportunity for Kenyans to see Kenyatta – the man – devoid of all the presidential stiffness.
The professional relationship between Maribe and Kenyatta dates back many years before the latter attained the high office.
In 2011, Kenyatta was attending a KANU retreat at the Great Rift Valley Lodge, incidentally Maribe’s birthday was also being held there.
Although Maribe was then a little-known reporter working at K24, Kenyatta made time for the birthday and delivered a sweet poetic birthday message:
From a man who is 50 to a girl who has just started life; This (a bottle of wine) is for you. Do not let life pass-by. From a man, who is aged, I missed my chances in life to the maximum; do not waste yours. Grab them, utilize the opportunities and do not waste them. Happy Birthday.
Jacque Maribe (left) with Uhuru Kenyatta in 2011Here are some of the photos of Maribe with President Kenyatta:
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Photos: Kenyan President Uhuru Reveals Jacque Maribe Is His Favourite Journalist
