Karlo CEO Epic Fail After Secretariat Harrasses Journalists&Delegates At Poorly Planned KNFSS Conference

Inspite of registering online and having gotten confirmation emails some journalists and delegates were harassed,humiliated and threatened by one guy standing at the entrance of the registration room with glasses and a full navy blue suit.He was picking IDs and hurling every insult known to man at the participants who waited patiently for hours.Some left distraught,humiliated and in tears no way to treat people who traveled from far and wide.

What was meant to be a flagship event for Kenya’s food and farming sector has turned into a public relations disaster. The Kenya National Farmers and Stakeholders Summit (KNFSS), organized in part by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), has come under fire after reports emerged of disorganization, harassment, and emotional distress suffered by both journalists and farmers.

The conference, intended to foster collaboration and provide actionable insights for the agricultural sector, instead became a stage for chaos and repression. Journalists attempting to cover the event say they were targeted, intimidated, and in some cases ejected from the venue by individuals believed to be from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and members of the secretariat.

“The level of hostility toward media was shocking,” one journalist said, speaking under condition of anonymity. “We were treated as if we were threats instead of professionals there to highlight issues that matter to Kenyan farmers.”

Farmers—many of whom traveled from rural areas with the hope of voicing their concerns and accessing solutions—were left disappointed and in tears. Several were reportedly shut down or ignored during key segments of the event, with some breaking down emotionally after being excluded from critical discussions that directly affect their livelihoods.

“This was supposed to be our platform,” said one distraught farmer. “But instead of being heard, we were humiliated. They didn’t care about us. They only cared about protocol and silencing people.”

At the center of the controversy is the CEO of KALRO, whose leadership during the event has been widely criticized as ineffective and tone-deaf. Critics are accusing the CEO of being out of touch with the needs of both media professionals and the very farmers the institution is meant to support.

Analysts now point to a worrying pattern of public institutions using state-linked operatives to intimidate press members while simultaneously neglecting the communities they claim to serve. The involvement of NIS operatives in what should have been a peaceful and collaborative conference has also raised alarm over the growing trend of surveillance and suppression in civil spaces.

The backlash is mounting. Farmers’ unions, journalists’ associations, and civic groups are now calling for an immediate investigation into the handling of the conference. Some are also demanding the resignation of the KALRO CEO and a public apology to the affected farmers and media professionals.

“The people running these events must be held accountable. You cannot claim to be working for food security while silencing the very people who grow our food and the journalists who report on their challenges,” said a representative from a national farmers’ coalition.

As of the time of writing, KALRO has not released an official statement regarding the incident. Pressure is expected to intensify in the coming days as more testimonies emerge from those who were mistreated during the KNFSS conference.