PRESIDENTIAL ANGER! Ruto Lashes Out At Standard Media Over Explosive Exposé

PRESIDENTIAL ANGER! Ruto Lashes Out At Standard Media Over Explosive Exposé

President William Ruto has launched a stinging attack on Standard Media Group, accusing the Mombasa Road-based media outlet of conducting a ‘extortionist propaganda’ campaign against his administration.

In a harshly worded message posted on his official social media channels on Wednesday, June 24, the President addressed KANU Chairman Gideon Moi, whose family owns the media company.

Ruto argued that continuous bad headlines about his administration would neither affect government decisions nor cause him to give in to pressure.

“Gideon Moi, your Standard Media’s five days a week extortionist propaganda headlines on me and my administration’s transformative track record will get you nothing and nowhere,” the President stated.

“Blackmail to yield to your greed? Never. Kenya belongs to all Kenyans, not you alone. Try eight days a week. Do your worst.”

GMoi,your STANDARD media’s 5 days a week EXTORTIONIST propaganda HEADLINES on me & my administration’s transformative track record will get you NOTHING & NOWHERE.BLACKMAIL to yield to your GREED? NEVER.Kenya belongs to all Kenyans,not you alone.Jaribu 8 days a week. Do your WORST— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) June 24, 2026

The remarks are one of Ruto’s sharpest public attacks on a mainstream media outlet since taking office in September 2022.

The Standard has, in recent months, published a series of hard-hitting headlines scrutinising government policies, public expenditure, taxation measures, governance issues, and graft allegations involving state officials, with the latest focusing on promises made by the Head of State.

The publication has also consistently highlighted the President’s foreign travel schedule, government spending by the Executive, and expenditure within the Office of the President and the Office of the Deputy President.

Over the past few days, KTN News has been airing a feature dubbed ‘The Gallery of Ruto’s Lies,’ which examines unfulfilled government promises and stalled infrastructure projects under Ruto’s administration.

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📲 Read the ePaper: https://t.co/2t4BmyBN1h #TheBold #FactsFirst pic.twitter.com/Lh6BCSUms9— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) June 24, 2026

Several of Ruto’s allies have repeatedly criticised sections of the media over their coverage of the Kenya Kwanza administration.

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The latest clash is likely to reignite debate over press freedom, media independence, and the relationship between the government and the Fourth Estate in Kenya.

The Constitution guarantees freedom of the media and protects journalists and media houses from state interference, while also requiring the press to adhere to professional and ethical standards.

Interestingly, Standard Media Group itself has recently come under scrutiny over its editorial practices.

In March this year, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) accused the media house of pursuing sensational headlines and publishing unverified information.

The MCK cited a controversial front-page story that claimed former CS Raphael Tuju had been abducted.

The regulator warned that while attention-grabbing headlines may generate short-term readership, repeated reliance on sensationalism risks eroding public trust in journalism.

As of publication, neither Standard Media Group, Gideon Moi, nor the MCK had responded to Ruto’s remarks.

PRESIDENTIAL ANGER! Ruto Lashes Out At Standard Media Over Explosive Exposé