Senior State House official Dennis Itumbi has lashed out at The Standard newspaper, terming it a mockery of what journalism and the newsroom are supposed to be.
In a strongly worded statement released on Tuesday, June 24, Itumbi criticised the media house over an exposé alleging that the government plans to scuttle protests slated for Wednesday, June 25.
“Journalism is the pursuit of truth; anything less is gossip. For some newspapers like The Standard, that line isn’t blurred. It’s been buried,” Itumbi stated.
“Their editorial mantra is not about facts. It’s about fabrication. This is not a tabloid, or even gutter press; it is an insult to the very idea of journalism,” he added.
In the exposé, the Standard detailed how the government, with the blessings from the house on the hill, aims to bring chaos to the protests through various strategies such as the mobilisation of goons and the generation of propaganda via digital media.
While uncovering the alleged plan, The Standard revealed messages in WhatsApp groups allegedly run by government bloggers and officials, the UDA Secretariat, and parastatal chiefs detailing how they intend to scuttle the planned peaceful protests.
The Standard unearthed how the network extended from senior State House officials, Members of Parliament, government officials, and Members of County Assembly (MCAs), to grassroots mobilisers in some of Nairobi’s informal settlements.
In addition, they disclosed how the National Police Service (NPS) was allegedly privy to the situation despite previously assuring protesters of their safety during the protests.
Key to the plan was the deployment of hired goons to bring violence and chaos to the protests. In the story, the Standard disclosed how the plan was to target women to bring fear, and also steal phones to avoid the documentation of the protests.
In protests held in honour of Albert Ojwang on Tuesday, June 17, stick-wielding goons infiltrated the demonstrations, robbing civilians and looting shops. The goons were believed to have the backing of police, who were seen turning a blind eye to their activities.
However, some groups took it upon themselves to restore order, unleashing disciplinary action on the goons, with some individuals leaving the protests with broken limbs and head injuries.
The June 25 protests are set to be held in honour of Gen Zs who lost their lives during last year’s anti-Finance Bill demonstrations. Leading the protests are families of the fallen Gen Zs and notable activists.
The demonstrations will mainly take place in Nairobi’s Central Business District, although reports indicate they may also occur in other parts of the country.
