NAIROBI, Kenya — Media personality and comedian Steve Thompson Maghana, widely known as Oga Obinna, has refuted speculation that he secured employment through a clandestine arrangement following his recent interview with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Friday, May 16, 2025.
Speaking to YouTuber 2Mbili shortly after attending entertainer YY Comedian’s sold-out show on Sunday, May 25, 2025, Obinna firmly stated that no job offer was made during his meeting with the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. He emphasized that their interaction was strictly limited to the interview that was publicly available online.
“They say Gachagua gave me something? What kind of job are you talking about? There is no deal or anything of the sort,” he asserted.
Potential MC role
However, Obinna disclosed that discussions are currently underway with Gachagua’s team regarding a potential role as the master of ceremonies for the launch of their political party.
He clarified that these talks are not directly with Gachagua himself but rather with his close associates, expressing his enthusiasm for the opportunity due to its promising financial rewards.
“Actually, I am negotiating to MC the launch of his party. I am speaking to his people, not Gachagua, because I need to MC. They should pay me to come and MC that party. I am there to MC the party launch,” he elaborated.
Furthermore, Obinna urged the public to refrain from overinterpreting his interview with Gachagua, stressing that it was simply a routine journalistic endeavor. He clarified that it was inaccurate to assume the interview signaled his support for Gachagua’s faction, stating that he is not aligned with either the opposition or President William Ruto.
“Obinna is not supporting the government, and he is not supporting the opposition. I am just doing the Lord’s work. There is no place where you will ever see me disrespecting the President, opposition leaders, or any human being because that is not what I stand for,” Obinna affirmed.
He also addressed concerns about potential retaliation from leaders opposed to Gachagua, given the potentially sensitive nature of the interview.
Obinna stated that he did not understand why any leader would target him, explaining that he had simply performed his journalistic duties. However, he admitted to occasional feelings of fear, particularly when noticing a Subaru vehicle closely following his, acknowledging that this tendency to overthink and suspect he is being monitored is a natural human reaction.
“Fear can happen, but, of course, I am human. Even now when I see Subarus behind me, I wonder what is going on. However, I have not received any information suggesting that I am being pursued. I was not the first person to interview him,” he concluded.
Night of fear after interview
Earlier, on Sunday, May 18, 2025, Obinna had revealed that he and his entire media crew spent the night at the former deputy president’s residence due to safety concerns following the “hard-hitting interview.”
In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Obinna shared that he and his team were genuinely uneasy, fearing potential repercussions from Gachagua’s opponents.
He explained that because the interview had been particularly probing, they collectively decided it was safer to stay overnight at the residence rather than risk the late-night journey back to Nairobi.
“My people and I were genuinely terrified after that interview, so we said, ‘You know what, guys, let us just crash here for the night and hit the road in the morning,’” he said.
Obinna added that even after spending the night, their anxiety persisted during the following day’s drive back, leaving the entire crew tense. He recounted instances of paranoia at police checkpoints, where they feared being monitored or followed.
At one particularly tense moment, Obinna instructed his team to begin filming immediately, anticipating the need for evidence in case of detention.
“The drive from Wamunyoro was so long that honestly travelling at night was not even an option — everyone was extremely anxious, so we just said, ‘Let us sleep here tonight and head out in the morning.’ But then as we were driving during the day, we came across a police checkpoint, and I literally froze. I started asking myself what was about to happen, and I told my people, ‘Pick up the camera and start filming,’” he added.
