In an age where gadgets rule and news is devoured digitally, getting the public to notice a newspaper takes serious effort. Yet one Mombasa Road-based media house appears to be doing just that, and setting the standard while at it.
For years, The Standard touted itself as Kenya’s boldest newspaper. But that boldness didn’t quite pack a punch until recently, when it went bare-knuckle against the government.
Let’s face it: the current regime needed to be kept in check, and the opposition wasn’t doing much of a job, especially after the broad-based handshake.
Someone had to step up, be it an individual, a group, a generation, or even an institution. In business, identifying gaps and providing solutions is the ultimate hack, and the team of editors at The Standard probably saw this and came up with a plan.
They tried it once, twice, thrice, and it worked. Screenshots of the headlines went viral on X. They were everything the media should be: loud, clear, and a true voice of the people.
The headlines communicated what many Kenyans were murmuring behind closed doors. Their message was amplified in every sense; bold, hard-hitting, and entirely unbothered. The paper called out the President and his peers, parading their faces for all to see.
Kenyans seemed to have been longing for this. They were tired of rampant corruption, endless inquiries, and shady deals that left the country drowning in debt.
So, how exactly did The Standard pull this off?
According to seasoned editors at the media house, journalism was slowly losing its salt, and someone needed to bring back the flavour. Of course, it would come at a cost, but they were willing to pay.
“For a long time, the media has been operating in a very predictable way, barely going beyond the surface. We saw a need to speak up and amplify what society has been saying in the streets and on social media,” said a seasoned editor at the company.
“Our country has been bleeding for some time, and it was time to hold people to account. Our decision to run bold headlines was very deliberate, and they genuinely speak for the public.
“As journalists, we have a duty to inform and educate. We’ve gone beyond that by becoming a voice for the voiceless. We’re not activists, just journalists who want change,” added another.
Lying President, You’re Unfit to Lead, Our Turn to Eat, Tower of Babel, Ruthless President, Big Man Syndrome, and Blood on Their Hands, just a few of the headlines that stirred the pot.
Weren’t they afraid of the implications?
Another experienced editor said no one was holding the government accountable, and at some point, it had become business as usual for the regime.
“With all the scandals, even the opposition was coming off as exhausted. That’s when The Standard decided to step up.
“Didn’t you see our newspapers hoisted like placards during Maandamano? And the online chatter? We’ve been trending for weeks… So yes, the headlines are working, and we’ve earned public trust,” she quipped.
President William Ruto has been on the receiving end of most of the headlines that have squarely put him in the spotlight.
When he began his tour of Central in April, the Head of State claimed that Kenya was exporting tea to Sudan, a statement swiftly disputed by the Sudanese government. A few days later, former Public Service CS Justin Muturi poked holes in Ruto’s leadership, accusing him of an insatiable thirst for deals.
Then came a string of conflicting statements by senior security officials, hinting at divisions within the National Security Council, a case of disjointed communication, to say the least.
This was further compounded by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s remarks on abducted Kenyans reunited with their families, comments that appeared to contradict his boss’s line.
These bold headlines didn’t go unnoticed. In April, the media house claimed the government was hell-bent on revoking its broadcasting licence.
Communications Authority of Kenya
The company revealed it received a notice from the Communications Authority (CA) announcing the revocation of its licence for allegedly failing to pay a Ksh43 million fee.
The media house stated that the Ksh43 million was a regulatory fee, agreed upon with the government in December last year after consultations.
In the agreement, Standard Group pledged to make an initial payment of Ksh10 million, which it honoured on December 27, and to pay a further Ksh24 million once the Rights Issue was finalised.
State House
On Saturday, May 31, Standard Group journalists were denied access to State House to cover a visit by Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, the journalists said that scribes from other media houses were granted entry, but there were specific instructions to block Standard reporters from going in.
Signal Hitch
On May 23, the media house announced a temporary downtime affecting its TV and radio stations, which resulted in service disruption.
In a brief statement on Friday morning, the group disclosed that most of its radio and TV platforms were temporarily off air due to a technical hitch.
ODM
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) also hit out at Standard Group for allegedly running a smear campaign against party leader Raila Odinga and his family.
In a statement on Monday, May 5, the party’s Executive Director, Oduor Ong’wen, said the campaign negated, demeaned, and tarnished Odinga’s reputation.
This followed a story in The Standard headlined Our Turn to Eat, which pointed to some of Odinga’s relatives landing high-level state jobs following the March handshake with Ruto.
Oduor claimed the article was inappropriate, especially considering the “great personal risk” Odinga had taken for the nation.
Leaders
In April, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot slammed the Kenyan media over its coverage of the Kenya Kwanza administration, particularly President Ruto.
Speaking at the burial of former MP John Koech, the Senate Majority Leader criticised what he called “ridicule” and a lack of respect for the Office of the President.
Despite the backlash, the media house has remained resolute in its mission: calling out government ills and keeping the powerful in check.
