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8 days a week pressure: ‘The Standard’ fires back after Ruto’s rant
24th June, 2026 05:47 PM
A public spat between President William Ruto and The Standard escalated on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, after the newspaper cheekily responded to a social media attack from the head of state over its coverage of his administration.
In a strongly worded post on X, Ruto accused the media house of running what he termed “five days a week extortionist propaganda headlines” against him and his government’s development agenda. The president suggested that the newspaper’s critical coverage amounted to blackmail aimed at advancing commercial interests.
“Gideon Moi, your Standard Media’s 5 days a week extortionist propaganda headlines on me and my administration’s transformative track record will get you nothing and nowhere.
“Blackmail to yield to your greed? Never. Kenya belongs to all Kenyans, not you alone. Jaribu 8 days a week. Do your worst, ” Ruto wrote.
The remarks sparked intense debate online, drawing reactions from supporters and critics alike over the relationship between political power and media freedom.
The Standard responded to the president immediately with a dose of satire. Through its official social media platforms, the newspaper posted a graphical artwork with the following words:
“Due to public demand, we are printing The Standard 8 days a week, to meet your demand.”
The response quickly gained traction, with many social media users interpreting it as a defiant assertion of editorial independence and a refusal to be intimidated by criticism from the country’s top leadership.
The latest exchange underscores growing tensions between the Kenya Kwanza administration and sections of the media, particularly over reporting on governance, public spending, taxation and the state of the economy.
Whether the war of words cools or intensifies remains to be seen, but for now, the battle between State House and The Standard appears far from over.
