Investigative Journalist Recollects How He Turned Down Sh8M Cash Bribe From a Govt Official to Kill a Story

As he celebrated his 30th birthday, investigative journalist Brian Obuya took to Facebook to reflect on a rollercoaster career marked by integrity, resilience, and no shortage of dramatic moments—including the time he rejected a staggering Ksh 8 million bribe from a government official to bury a story.

Cameraman’s fury

In a candid and humorous post, Obuya recounted the incident that left his cameraperson in disbelief. “One was to reject a Kes 8M bribe casually offered by a government official in a kibandaski  – my cameraperson almost swallowed me buana,” he wrote.

The offer, made in a roadside eatery, was a test of his principles—one he passed, cementing his reputation as a journalist unwilling to compromise.

Obuya’s reflections painted a picture of a career that began at 19 and has been anything but conventional.

“I have been fired or there have been advanced attempts to fire me every year of my employment since my first media job,” he shared with a laugh, hinting at the turbulence that comes with exposing hard truths.

Yet, he remains undeterred, crediting his faith and determination for keeping him grounded.

The journalist, who now looks back on three decades of life, also alluded to a bizarre smear campaign in late 2022.

“Nimelala tu in my dusty one bedroom in Mirema, natumiwa links how I’ve been found in a married woman’s house by the husband engaging in steamy horizontal movements ??,” he wrote, promising to one day share the full tale.

The false rumor, he suggested, was just one of many attempts to discredit him.

Despite the challenges, Obuya’s tone was celebratory as he marked his milestone birthday.

“It’s been three solid decades of chasing dreams, breaking barriers, and making memories,” he wrote.

“Happy Birthday, my older self! Here’s to bigger wins, louder laughs, and softer landings.”

His post ended with a prayer in Swahili, reflecting his reliance on faith: “Aniamshaye asubuhi, juzi kama jana na leo na labda kesho – isitiri nafsi yangu ili kwamba nisikufuru wakati wenzangu wanafuturu. Mungu mbele !!” Translated, it means, “He who wakes me each morning, yesterday, today, and perhaps tomorrow—shield my soul so I don’t curse while others prosper. God first!!”

The former NTV reporter is known for his hard-hitting exposés including the last one he compiled which targeted extremism in the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) church, he was fired in a massive layoff which affected several journalists at the Nation Media Group in June 2024.

This came just a few years after he quit working as an investigative reporter with KTN to take the role of Special reports and investigations at the Twin Towers.

As he steps into his thirties, unmarried, without a car or house by his own admission, Obuya embraces his path with humor and hope. “Sasa mimi ndio huyo mtu,” he quipped, proving that for him, integrity and a good laugh outweigh societal expectations any day.