Standard Media Group has denied a viral letter claiming it apologised to President Ruto over government coverage, calling it fake amid ongoing tension with State House.
Standard Media Group (SMG) has dismissed a statement circulating widely online that claimed the company had apologised to President William Ruto over its coverage of his government, terming the document fake.
The letter, seen by Don Sami Live on July 9, spread rapidly on social media, sparking public debate over whether The Standard's editorial stance on government reporting had shifted following its recent explosive front pages.
The fabricated document was styled as an editorial note and apology addressed to the Government of Kenya and the public. Its banner read: "RE: EDITORIAL NOTE AND APOLOGY ON OUR COVERAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT."
According to the letter, Standard Media had reviewed its coverage of state programmes in infrastructure, healthcare, and the economy, and had allegedly admitted that some of this reporting had not been accurate or fair. It also claimed the company had acknowledged shortcomings in its representation of government work and had reaffirmed a commitment to high journalistic standards going forward, with recommendations reportedly made for corrections.
Editorial note: This publication has not been able to independently verify the origin of the letter beyond Don Sami Live's own sighting of the circulating document. Readers should treat the letter's content as fabricated, per Standard Media's position, until any further official verification.
On June 23, KTN News, SMG's television arm, aired an explosive feature titled "Gallery of Ruto's Lies," examining unfulfilled campaign pledges and the gap between government rhetoric and realities on the ground, particularly around delayed infrastructure projects and economic promises. The accompanying print feature ran in The Standard.
President Ruto responded publicly on social media, dismissing the coverage as "extortionist propaganda" and blackmail. The remarks drew sharp criticism from journalists, editors, and press freedom advocates who accused the government of attempting to intimidate the media house.
The tension escalated further when National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Standard Media demanding retraction of a story titled "Broad Based Family," which he described as false and malicious. The piece had suggested that Westlands MP and Bungoma gubernatorial aspirant Tim Wanyonyi's political positioning was tied to family links with the Speaker — a claim Wetangula's team has firmly rejected.
Editorial note: Details on the "Broad Based Family" story and Wetangula's retraction demand are drawn from the brief as submitted; readers seeking the original reporting can refer to the sourced coverage.
The sustained criticism of government officials has reportedly come at a cost for Standard Media. The company has been locked out of government advertising, losing key State advertising tenders — a development that has contributed to months of staff salary delays at the media house.
The circulation of the fake apology letter, whoever created it, lands squarely in the middle of a live standoff between one of Kenya's oldest media houses and the presidency.
Whether intended to embarrass Standard Media, test public reaction, or sow confusion about the outlet's editorial independence, the episode underscores how disinformation can piggyback on real, high-stakes disputes between the press and those in power.
Standard Media has not issued any actual apology or editorial reversal. The company maintains its coverage of the government stands.