Kenyans have been warned to be more careful about the kind of news they consume, especially from media outlets that are believed to be spreading misinformation and showing political bias.
The warning came from Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Korir Sing’Oei, who criticized certain news organizations for allegedly twisting facts and pushing propaganda against the government.
In a statement released on Thursday, May 8, Sing’Oei specifically called out The Standard newspaper over its bold headline, “Lies Getting Bigger,” which appeared on its front page. The headline directly targeted President William Ruto and his administration, accusing them of dishonesty.
According to Sing’Oei, some parts of the media are no longer committed to reporting the truth. Instead, he claimed, they have taken up the role of spreading politically motivated falsehoods, which he described as harmful to public understanding and national unity.
“When the media stops being truth-seekers and instead becomes political propagandists and creators of information chaos, Kenyans must be extra cautious with what they believe,” the PS wrote on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
His reaction came shortly after lawyer and political commentator Ekuru Aukot praised The Standard for what he called a courageous move. Aukot endorsed the paper’s headline, claiming it accurately reflected the alleged dishonesty of President Ruto.
Aukot went further, suggesting that the message behind the headline should be made more accessible to ordinary Kenyans by translating it into local languages. This, he said, would help citizens who may not understand English fully grasp the gravity of the situation.
“The real question is, have Kenyans finally accepted that President William Ruto is just a lying president and that his administration has failed the country?” Aukot posed. “Maybe The Standard should translate that headline into vernacular so that everyone can understand it.”
The controversy stems from a report by The Standard that accused President Ruto of making a misleading statement during a visit to Narok on Wednesday, May 7.
During the tour, Ruto mentioned plans to meet a man named Isaiah Cheluget regarding a land matter. However, the newspaper pointed out that Cheluget had passed away back in June 2017 at Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu, making such a meeting impossible.
This apparent contradiction was used by the publication to question the accuracy of the president’s remarks and the credibility of the information shared by State House.
This is not the first time The Standard newspaper has come under fire from political leaders for its bold headlines.
Just a few days earlier, on Sunday, May 4, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, through his ODM party, condemned the media house for its “Our Turn to Eat” headline.
The article suggested that Odinga and his family were positioning themselves to benefit from power and influence.
Raila’s party strongly criticized the piece, saying it was unfair and damaged the image of a man who has sacrificed so much for Kenya.
They called the article a deliberate smear campaign designed to paint the former Prime Minister in a negative light.
Both incidents have sparked a nationwide debate about the role of the media in Kenya, the importance of factual reporting, and the responsibility journalists have in shaping public opinion.
Join Gen Z New WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
