Ruto Accuses Standard Media Owners of Exploiting Workers Amid Escalating War of Words
President William Ruto has intensified his public confrontation with Standard Media Group, accusing the media house’s owners of exploiting employees while simultaneously launching sustained attacks against his administration.
In a strongly-worded statement shared on his social media platforms on Thursday, June 25, the Head of State appeared to direct his criticism at KANU Chairman Gideon Moi, whose family has long been associated with the ownership of Standard Media Group.
The President alleged that the media company’s shareholders had failed to honour their obligations to workers, accusing them of hiding behind financial challenges while employees allegedly endured months of unpaid salaries.
“Bro, the billionaire you are; hiding behind ‘debts’ and forcing many months’ unpaid labour slaving to defend your Standard headlines’ extortion and gangsterism driven by greed, is heartless to loyal workers, an insult to journalism and a betrayal to the free media that Standard once belonged to,” Ruto wrote.
The latest remarks came barely 24 hours after the President accused Standard Media Group of orchestrating what he termed an “extortionist propaganda campaign” against the Kenya Kwanza administration through a series of critical headlines and broadcasts.
On Wednesday, Ruto directly addressed Gideon Moi in another social media post, dismissing claims that the media house’s criticism would influence government decisions or derail his administration’s agenda.
“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. Blackmail to yield to your greed? Never. Kenya belongs to all Kenyans, not you alone. Try eight days a week. Do your worst,” the President stated.
The exchange has sparked widespread debate and marked one of the most public confrontations between a sitting Kenyan president and a major mainstream media organisation in recent years, raising fresh concerns about the relationship between the government and the press.
Standard Media Group has, in recent months, published numerous investigative reports and front-page stories scrutinising government expenditure, taxation measures, governance concerns, and the implementation of promises made by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Its television station, KTN News, has also aired a feature segment titled “The Gallery of Ruto’s Lies”, which examines campaign pledges and government projects critics argue remain unfulfilled several years into Ruto’s presidency.
Responding to the President’s accusations, Standard Media Group Chief Executive Officer Chaacha Mwita defended the company’s editorial independence and rejected claims that its reporting is motivated by blackmail or personal interests.
Mwita argued that the President’s comments amounted to an attack on the principles of independent journalism and maintained that the media house would continue to hold those in power accountable through factual reporting.
The CEO further shifted attention to an ongoing financial dispute between the company and the government, claiming that State agencies owe Standard Media Group approximately KSh1.2 billion in unpaid advertising and service-related debts.
The dispute now threatens to deepen tensions between State House and one of Kenya’s largest media organisations, with observers closely watching whether the escalating rhetoric could have wider implications for press freedom and government-media relations in the country.
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