Gerald Masai, one of the individuals named in NTV’s viral Ol Kalou by-election documentary, has come out to publicly deny being one of the Ol Kalou goons the station’s investigative team linked to bribery and chaos during the campaign period.
The rebuttal follows NTV Investigates’ special report titled “The Ol Kalou Crime Scene: Unmasking the Faces Behind By-Election Bribery and Chaos,” which documented alleged voter bribery and placed state officials at the centre of events surrounding the violence that marred the Ol Kalou by-election, a report that has since elicited widespread reactions from Kenyans.
Who Is Gerald Masai and Why Was He Named Among Ol Kalou Goons?
According to an online report circulating shortly after the documentary aired, one of the individuals flagged in connection with the chaos has been identified as Gerald Masai and is said to work closely with Dennis Itumbi, a senior UDA operative, with claims that Gerald reportedly hails from Machakos and was once popular on TikTok.
Masai, however, insists he is a blogger and media personnel, not a campaign operative, and says the “goon” label attached to his name by NTV journalist Ibrahim Karanja is both false and damaging.
Gerald Masai’s Response to the Ol Kalou Goons Documentary
In a lengthy social media statement, Masai laid out several arguments challenging the NTV narrative:
1. He was in Ol Kalou strictly as media, not as a campaigner. Masai says he attended events purely to cover them for online publication, not to participate in political mobilisation.
2. Proximity to politicians isn’t proof of wrongdoing. He questions why photos of him standing near Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi and UDA candidate Samuel Muchina were treated as evidence, arguing that being photographed near a candidate at a public event doesn’t make someone a goon.
3. The Premier Hotel photos were from a public event. Masai says the widely shared image was taken during a public engagement at Premier Hotel, Ol Kalou, while he was on assignment taking pictures for online posts.
4. He disputes the viral “DCP truck” images. Masai claims those photos were AI-generated, referencing an earlier incident where a similar image posted by the former Deputy President was reportedly deleted after public backlash.
5. He says intimidation of UDA mobilisers has gone unreported. Masai alleges that mobilisers in Ol Kalou have faced intimidation that NTV has chosen not to cover, accusing the station of bias.
Fallout: Leaked Number and Threats
Masai further claims that after the documentary aired, his personal phone number was leaked online, leading to what he describes as threats from members of the public. He maintains he has never hidden his identity throughout the campaign period, saying he “wasn’t doing anything unlawful.”
He closed his statement firmly: “I’m not a goon and I will never be one. A believer in democracy and the rule of law.”
What NTV’s Investigation Actually Covered
It’s worth noting that NTV’s documentary was broader than any single individual. The investigation centred on vehicles bearing no registration plates and used by armed men whose faces were concealed with balaclavas or scarves around the by-election period, with the network stating it went undercover from the final week of the campaign through to election day to piece the story together.
As of publishing, NTV and Ibrahim Karanja have not issued a public response to Masai’s rebuttal, and it’s unclear whether any of the named individuals plan to pursue legal action.
