Netizens Criticize TV Host Olive Burrows’ Handling of Gen Z Panelists
Key takeaways
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- Olive Burrows is a seasoned female journalist in Kenya who currently works at Royal Media Services’ Citizen TV.
- The “Citizen Weekend” news anchor and reporter joined the station recently, replacing Victoria Rubadiri who moved to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
- Olive recently hosted vocal Gen Z activists Kasmuel McOure and Mercy Tarus in a heated interview about the country’s trajectory after countrywide protests.
- Kenyans, particularly on social media, have taken issue with Olive’s questioning, which reportedly aligned with government interests.
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Kasmuel MCoure opposes Ruto’s calls for dialogue
McOure and Tarus hit the Citizen TV studios on the Saturday prime-time news edition to discuss pressing matters including unemployment, government expenditure, and the country’s political crisis.
Experienced TV host Olive Burrows put the young panelists’ resolve to the test, drawing criticism from Kenyans on social media who described her attitude as dismissive.
Ms. Burrows questioned Kasmuel on the reluctance of Gen Z to approach the dialogue table.
Backed by opposition chief Raila Odinga, President Ruto has called Kenyan youth for dialogue, to end the stalemate between them and his government.
In his response, Kasmuel rubbished the calls for dialogue saying: “We show up to the dialogue table while some of us are showing up on autopsy table. It is unfair of you to expect Kenyan youth to take this one lying down.”
Kasmuel referred to the tens of Kenyans killed by police in the protests. According to McOure, despite Kenyans sharing evidence of the alleged brutality, the government has not taken any action.
The firebrand and outspoken McOure maintained that the Gen Z demands are very simple and that they do not require a conversation. What is required, he added, is action.
Mercy Tarus on Ruto’s new cabinet
Equally on Olive’s radar was Mercy Tarus, a vocal female voice in the movement. Ms Burrows posed: “Mercy, he says he’s heard you. What more do you want from the president?”
Mercy pointed out that the president’s reinstatement of some of his cabinet secretaries does not amount to hearing the popular demands.
According to Mercy, the president’s drastic action was welcome and it bought him crucial time to fix his government.
To their utter disillusion, the president brought some of the ministers he had fired and this time, included the opposition.
“We gave him time, and we knew he would come with such a genius move that would calm us down,” said Mercy referring to the youth’s disappointment of the president’s new cabinet nominees.
Netizens descend on Olive Burrows
Millions of Kenyans countrywide keenly followed the TV conversation as the ‘New Young Turks’ made a case for Gen Z.
Following the interview, Olive Burrows’ conduct became the focus of intense online debate.
While a section of netizens accused her of being a government operative, others claimed he was auditioning for a mysterious state job.
Below are some of the hilarious reactions by Kenyans on X:
@itskipronoh said “Olive Burrows was nowhere to be seen when journalists were protesting on Wednesday last week. I think she is an agent of the state! We may be forced to greet her soon! #NaneNane”
“Let’s call out Olive Burrows for being biased towards Kasmuel McOure. Seems she has been instructed by the govt on how to handle the lad. And calling off the interview halfway,” wrote @goat_mwamba
Also read: Babu Owino Declares Himself Chief Opposition Leader
“Seems Citizen TV’s Olive Burrows is operating for the govt. That is not journalism at all. She should leave Kasmuel McOure to speak his mind out.” Wrote the Government Critic.
