Investigative journalist John‑Allan Namu sparked a debate after stating that some podcasters are receiving large sums from politicians, a practice he says threatens the credibility of journalism.

Namu first voiced the issue at an Open Africa Tribune Media forum, where he questioned the trend of content creators being paid by politicians for events presented as independent media engagements.

He cited reports of payments ranging between Ksh200,000 and Ksh300,000, arguing that such undisclosed cash undermines journalists who adhere to factual reporting standards.

Namu warned that accepting political money without transparency encourages transactional media practices that could erode public confidence in legitimate journalism.

He described the phenomenon as ‘brown‑envelope journalism’ and called for open challenges to the practice, saying it damages the reputation of professional journalists.

While acknowledging the growing influence of podcasters in Kenya’s media landscape, Namu stressed that their reach comes with responsibility, especially as politicians intensify efforts to shape public opinion before the 2027 General Election.

Data from a Nairobi‑based research firm, cited by Kenyans.co.ke, placed former actor‑turned‑podcaster Abel Mutua at the top of Kenya’s podcaster rankings with an average of 306,500 views per video.

In response, a podcaster featured in the headlines defended his work, stating his platform focuses on entertainment, creative production, comedy, music and scripted content, not journalism.

He further clarified that interviewing politicians does not make him a journalist and that his company employs professional journalists for separate journalism assignments.