NTV political reporter Duncan Khaemba recently shared insights into the aftermath of his groundbreaking interview with lawyer and Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier on the controversial topic of Freemasonry.
The 60-minute interview shed light on the secretive society and left a lasting impact on Khaemba’s life.
Khaemba recounted the journey that led to the interview, revealing that it took two months of persistence to secure Rachier’s commitment.
“I patiently waited for two months then began looking for the interviewee again, calls went unanswered, texts as well, and was on the verge of throwing in the towel when the busy lawyer picked up my call. It was on a Monday, and he again apologised and gave me a Friday midmorning appointment,” Khaemba explained, “I quickly walked into my boss Joe Ageyo’s office, and I still remember his reaction! He asked me ‘You mean he has agreed to give a TV interview?’ I answered in affirmative, and I was given the green light to proceed. On the day of the interview, we decided that a Q&A session was a better option and so a second videographer had to come into the picture. So far I had prepared Eric Isinta for the interview and when Nelly Gathumbi was called in she was visibly scared perhaps thinking the interview would be taking place inside the Freemason Hall or Lodge as they call it.”
The journalist faced challenges in arranging the interview due to the sensitive nature of the topic and Rachier’s cautious approach.
The day of the interview arrived, and Khaemba, accompanied by a videographer, engaged in a tense Q&A session with Rachier at his office. The lawyer laid down rules of engagement, showcasing literature exclusive to Freemasons, adding an air of mystery to the interview.
“I told my mind not to veer off at any point and for the entire over 60 minutes, my eyes were firmly fixed on the Gor Mahia chairman. Interviewing a lawyer is a very difficult task and the subject of the day being a controversial topic complicates the matters further. When we reached the office, the boss made a quick decision that the interview would air that Sunday, and a promo for the same would be quickly produced to begin running on Saturday. By 7 pm that evening, the promo was all over.”
Also read: Family of Gor Mahia Chairman react to him being a member of Freemasons
The promo clip, sparked intense public interest and debate and was circulated widely. Khaemba found himself at the center of attention both in and outside the office.
“I was three months old and my second assignment was about Freemasonry conversations begun. Why and how were the big questions. The previous Sunday, a team of evangelical leaders had been invited to State House to conduct prayers, it was claimed the interview was a consequence of that. The ‘dark world’ was fighting back, some alleged as a result, those in the underworld were coming out, colleagues in the office began questioning my true identity while outside the office, the promo clip was literally in every church group and by Sunday everyone was waiting for the interview.”
As the interview went public, Khaemba experienced a surge in attention. He detailed how his local church congregants recognised him, and the frenzy continued with memes, trending hashtags, and a flood of messages.
“I blocked all calls, but texts kept pouring in. A former classmate in our high school wall asked that they all remember me in prayer. The following day Daily Nation published the interview and Ambrose Rachier exploded! He called me demanding to know why he was in the papers,” he narrated.
The fallout extended beyond media circles, with Rachier expressing frustration over being featured in the papers and facing public scrutiny.
Khaemba said, “I explained to him that we are in the era of multimedia journalism, and content acquired is published across all available platforms, but he couldn’t take any of that. His fury stemmed from the fact that his relatives, friends were now calling him after reading about him.”
The aftermath saw Rachier’s business partner and Gor Mahia Football Club distancing themselves from him, and fake images circulated to tarnish his reputation further.
Also read: Untold connection between All Saints Cathedral and the Freemasons
The Freemasonry conversation, initiated by the interview, had far-reaching consequences, generating heat and controversy that echoed for days.
He added, “Mark Masai was the anchor and I remember each and every comment he read on air…..my memes were all over,my name trending.”
Khaemba reflected on the baptism by fire he experienced but expressed a sense of accomplishment in bringing the elusive interview to fruition.
“For about three days, I had sleepless nights….some colleagues would avoid giving me a handshake as they crack jokes especially from the memes. It was baptism by fire as I settled in…. The interview I had chased for 4 years had finally been delivered but what I faced…” he said.
By Nairobinews