This archive report was first published on 7 August 2019.
Kenyan Journalist in US Faces Safety Concerns ¶
Kenyan journalist Larry Madowo has raised concerns about his safety in the US after two mass shootings took place in the country within a short period.
On August 3, 2019, Madowo arrived in the US, but his welcome was marred by news of a mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas.
Just hours later, he woke up to news of another mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio, leaving him questioning his safety in the country.
He took to Twitter to express his concerns, saying, 'I went to sleep on news of a mass shooting in El Paso. I woke up to news of a mass shooting in Dayton. This is only my first weekend living in these United States!'
However, his tweet received a backlash from some Americans, with one user, John Siebert, responding, 'I have received a warm welcome, evidently #ThisIsAmerica.'
Another user, Claudie, shouted, 'I have two words for you. Get Out!'
Madowo's tweet has attracted over 1.5K retweets and 6.1K likes.
The US mass shootings claimed the lives of 29 individuals and left more than 40 wounded.
Kenyan netizens sided with Madowo, issuing 'travel advisories' against the US and urging him to return home until the country is declared a 'safe space.'
