The Orange Democratic Movement has slammed the Standard Media Group for dispensing 'smear campaigns' against the party's head, Raila Odinga, together with his family.
In a statement on Monday, May 5, the Party's executive Director, Oduor Ong'wen, said that the campaign by the Standard Group negated, demeaned, and tarnished the reputation of Odinga.
This follows a newspaper story in today's edition of The Standard with the headline 'Our Turn to Eat'. The story pointed to some of Odinga's kin who have received high-level state jobs following an agreement between Raila and Ruto in March.
Oduor claimed that the news story is inappropriate, especially given the 'great personal risk' Odinga took for the sake of the nation.
"The Orange Democratic Movement has taken note of the sustained smear campaign by The Standard Newspapers against the Party's leader, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, and which has now been extended against his entire family," he stated.
"We note that The Standard is determined to negate, demean, and destroy the known acts of sacrifice, nationalism, and patriotism that Rt. Hon. Odinga has undertaken at great personal risk to himself and his family, for the betterment of this nation," he added.
Ong'wen claimed that the party will issue a detailed statement on Tuesday, May 6, outlining the way forward on the relationship between the party and the media group.
The newspaper displayed the image of Raila together with his brother, Oburu Odinga, and his daughter Winnie Odinga, among other relatives, and their corresponding roles in the government.
According to the story, despite Raila claiming that he is challenging for the people, he has always taken advantage of national crises to benefit himself and those close to him.
"He has long branded himself as the people's champion, 'Baba' – the voice of the downtrodden. But time and again, Raila Odinga has turned moments of national crisis into personal political capital with rewards for his inner circle. Is this statesmanship or strategic self-interest activism?" it stated.
It is not the first time that the political ecosystem has slammed the media house for its hard-hitting splashes.
Earlier this year, President William Ruto castigated the newspaper over a bold front-page splash that projected that the partnership between the president and Raila was a betrayal of Kenyans.
Ruto, who did not mention The Standard, referred to it as “those telling us through newspapers that unity is betrayal.”
"You can see today we are seated here—Azimio and Kenya Kwanza governments. The unity we are pushing in Kenya is divine and God-ordained. That is how we can be blessed as a nation—if we are united," Ruto remarked.
"How shameful and tragic, while the bishop is telling us that nothing is impossible when we are united. The devil has a different message against unity in our nation. May the devil be defeated," he added.
