President William Ruto’s office has strongly condemned The Standard newspaper over a report alleging that a proscribed group is involved in planning his upcoming tour of the Mt Kenya region.
In a blistering statement issued on Monday, the Head of Presidential Communication Service, Mr. Munyori Buku, dismissed the claims as “false, malicious, and dangerously reckless.”
The explosive press release accused The Standard of engaging in “reckless sensationalism, flagrant hostility, and thinly veiled propaganda,” further stating that the newspaper had abandoned journalistic ethics in favor of political mischief.
“The outrageous, outlandish claim that a proscribed group is involved in planning the President’s tour of Mt Kenya is not only manifestly false, but it is also dangerously irresponsible, reckless, and inciteful,” the statement read.
Ruto’s Itinerary Under Legitimate Oversight
According to State House, preparations for the President’s visit have been coordinated by legitimate state and regional authorities. The statement revealed that President Ruto had held consultative meetings with governors and National Government officials, while Deputy President Kithure Kindiki had also engaged local legislators in preparation for the tour.
“The local leadership, security agencies, and communities are more than capable of coordinating a presidential tour without resorting to the involvement of nefarious groups,” Buku said.
Attack on Media Integrity
In his stinging rebuke, Buku accused The Standard of fabricating claims using “phantom informants” and failing to seek comment from the Presidency before running the story. He argued that the newspaper had abandoned professional journalism and instead chosen to “weaponize misinformation” to stir public anger against the government.
“What The Standard has been engaged in is not journalism; it is gossip and innuendo masquerading as news, rumor staged as fact, and desperation disguised as reporting,” Buku charged.
State House Promises Accountability
The Presidency warned that The Standard would be held to account for what it termed as deliberate misinformation. Buku also suggested that the publication was struggling with declining readership and resorting to sensationalism to remain relevant.
“If the newspaper has chosen to weaponize misinformation to prop up its waning relevance, it should prepare to be held to account—not only by the institutions it maligns but also by the public,” the statement concluded.
President Ruto’s upcoming visit to Mt Kenya is expected to address key regional concerns, including economic growth, agriculture, and local leadership engagements.
However, the controversy sparked by The Standard’s report has already cast a shadow over the trip, setting the stage for heightened political tensions in the coming days.
The Standard Yet to Respond
By the time of publication, The Standard had not issued a response to the accusations leveled by State House.
However, media analysts say the sharp reaction from the government signals an increasingly strained relationship between the administration and sections of the press.
