Royal Media Services personalities receive heartwarming messages after malicious phone number leak

The leaks were an apparent confirmation of a trend which has seen phone numbers of virtually every Kenyan leader, including the President, published online with Kenyans encouraged to call/text them in a cheeky euphemism titled 'Salimia yeye'.

However, these 'greetings' are not meant to be cordial affairs but a profanity-laced session where Kenyans unleash their anger on a target, lashing out at them, cursing them out and warning them of repercussions.

As the attacks on the Kenyan media escalated online, some figures leaked the phone numbers of top Citizen TV anchors and reporters, hoping that Kenyans would flood them with insults and threats.

However, a huge majority of the people who got hold of the contacts in fact used the opportunity to praise the news anchors and thank them for their service to the nation, encouraging them to keep going and ignore the negativity.

Some of the Royal Media Services personalities who were graciously greeted by Kenyans and commended for their journalistic efforts include Mashirima Kapombe, Yvonne Okwara, Group Editorial & Strategy Director Linus Kaikai and News Editor Muraya Kariuki.

Reacting to the wholesome messages, Kaikai said, "My fellow Kenyans, I am overwhelmed by your countless messages of love, kindness and encouragement. This was certainly not the intended outcome of that early morning ‘brief’." 

"Thank you for the very many calls, too; I spoke to a lot of amazing countrymen. Let’s keep talking, loving and serving Kenya in the best way we can. God bless you all. "

Mashirima Kapombe also expressed gratitude, writing, "I don't think this is what they expected. Thank you for all the kind and warm messages. You all give me hope that Kenya will triumph and we are better together; known and unknown, rich or poor, Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X. God bless you and our great country."

On her part, Yvonne Okwara simply thanked Kenyans for the 'greetings', saying, "What a day! Absolutely pleasure hearing from you all today. Shukran sana kwa salamu!"

One of the messages directed at Kaikai reads: "Dear Linus, Your number is circulating online probably shared by government-sponsored goons but know this brother, you and your team are doing a good job."

"When your performance is above their mediocrity and hooliganism no amount of propaganda will ever make us hate you or harm you. Continue keeping these thugs in their rightful corner. You're an inspiration to all of us, young or old." 

Amid the anti-media rhetoric, some posters branded 'Occupy Citizen' also made rounds online even as the media fraternity complained of sustained attacks and even abductions aimed at Kenyan journalists.