🚨 WANGA FIRES BACK: Governor Takes KTN, The Standard to Media Council Over Homa Bay Violence Reports
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has escalated her fight over reports surrounding the violence witnessed during the August 16 Linda Mwananchi rally, formally lodging complaints against KTN and The Standard with the Media Council of Kenya.
Wanga has accused the two media outlets of publishing and broadcasting what she describes as “fabricated, unverified and highly prejudicial” allegations that she says damaged her reputation and portrayed her administration negatively.
In a letter to the Media Council, the Governor specifically took issue with a KTN broadcast aired on September 6 and a report published by The Standard on September 7 concerning the Homa Bay chaos.
Wanga insisted that her complaint was not an attempt to silence the media, saying she supports legitimate scrutiny and public accountability.
However, she accused the media houses of failing to meet basic journalistic standards by presenting what she considers serious but unverified allegations as fact.
“My concern is not with legitimate media scrutiny; I welcome accountability and open public discourse,” Wanga stated.
🔥 GOVERNOR QUESTIONS MYSTERY MACHETE PHOTO
One of the biggest points of contention is a photograph published on the front page of The Standard showing a man armed with a machete during the Homa Bay violence.
Wanga claims the man has been identified as an employee from neighbouring Siaya County.
The Governor argues that his alleged presence at the scene raises questions about whether individuals from outside Homa Bay were involved in the violence.
“The presence of a weapon-wielding officer from a neighbouring county at the scene of the conflict in Homa Bay clearly demonstrates that these acts were perpetrated by external agents,” Wanga claimed.
The claim, however, remains a position advanced by the Governor and is subject to verification and determination through the relevant investigations.
📺 WANGA ACCUSES KTN OF SIDELINING HER RESPONSE
The Governor also accused KTN of failing to adequately air her administration’s response to the allegations despite her office providing what she described as a substantive reply.
The dispute follows an investigative report by The Standard examining the violence and chaos surrounding the Linda Mwananchi rally attended by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and other political leaders.
The report alleged the existence of an organised network of financiers and local coordinators behind the violence, with anonymous sources and whistleblowers claiming that meetings were held before the rally.
The allegations have since triggered a heated political and media debate.
⚖️ GOVERNOR DEMANDS RETRACTION AND APOLOGY
Wanga has now asked the Media Council of Kenya to investigate both the KTN broadcast and The Standard report against the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism.
She wants the Council to direct the media outlets to issue an immediate and prominent retraction and unconditional apology.
The Governor has also called for appropriate disciplinary action if the Council establishes that journalistic standards were breached.
“Public discourse on sensitive matters must be anchored in truth and evidence, not speculative character assassination,” Wanga said.
The complaint now places the Media Council at the centre of a growing dispute over media accountability, political scrutiny and the competing versions of what happened during the August 16 Homa Bay rally.
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