Kenyans on Twitter led by a number of local journalists on Tuesday trolled a section of international media over apparent sensational and alarmist coverage of the attack in Nairobi's Riverside area.
Former NTV news anchor and BBC Africa Business Editor Larry Madowo slammed The New York Times after they published images of the dead. Madowo was categorical with the manner with which the media house handled the new after they reported that the Dusit Complex was host to international companies.
"This complex (Dusit) probably has more Kenyan companies than foreign ones. And it is in poor taste for the New York Times to publish images of the dead," Larry reacted on Twitter.
East Africa Bureau Chief for The New York Times Kimiko de Freytas had earlier dismissed a complaint raised by Kenya's Wallace Kantai. Freytas asked Kantai not to bother her with the concerns, referring him to the publication's photos desk.
She said she had no capacity to choose which images would be published from the developments in Nairobi despite heading the media house's operations across East Africa.
After more Kenyans raised similar concerns, Freytas was forced to apologize over the matter.
"Dear New York Times, what value do you add by publishing pictures of dead bodies from Nairobi? You wouldn’t do this for an attack in New York, would you? Shame on you. And also to The Associated Press, who took the photos," Kantai wrote on Twitter.
Freytas bowed to presser over the alarming reporting saying "I apologize on behalf of New York Times and @nytphoto for causing anger and anguish over the photos that have been published with our reporting. Thank you."
Following the complaints, the New York Times photos desk Twitter handle was suspended.
Below is a snippet of the statement the New York Times issued after public outcry, even though they never pulled down the photos used in their article:
#hivisasaoriginal