The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has called out The Standard newspaper over a front-page story which featured its leader, Raila Odinga, and members of his family.
Under the headline 'Our turn to eat', the newspaper listed several family members of the larger Odinga family who have secured jobs in President Ruto's government since the broad-based initiative.
In a statement on Monday, May 5, ODM said the headline is a smear campaign against Raila, accusing the media house of intentionally tarnishing the image of the former prime minister.
"The Orange Democratic Movement has taken note of the sustained smear campaign by The Standard newspaper against the Party's leader, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, and has now been extended against his entire family.
"We note that The Standard is determined to negate, demean, and destroy the known acts of sacrifice, nationalism, and patriotism that Odinga has undertaken at great personal risk to him and family, for the betterment of this nation,” the statement read.
Read More
This comes two weeks after President William Ruto criticised the newspaper over its headline likening his decision to work with Raila to 'Judas betrayal.'
Speaking on Sunday, April 20, Ruto condemned the newspaper, suggesting that the publication was pushing a divisive agenda.
“The Bible says that it's good when people live in unity, and God sends his blessings where people live together and in harmony. Those who don't know God are telling us in newspapers that unity is betrayal."
“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 said.
Earlier, State House had called out the newspaper following a front-page story linking Ruto’s Mt. Kenya tour to the outlawed Mungiki sect.
The newspaper alleged that former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga was involved in mobilizing support for Ruto’s visit to the region.
However, in a statement on Monday, March 31, Head of Presidential Communication Service Munyori Buku denounced the story as false, accusing the publication of engaging in propaganda.
"The lead story in today's (Monday, March 31st) edition of The Standard marks yet another descent into the bottomless tabloid abyss that the publication now appears so determined to inhabit.
"This latest installment in its campaign of reckless sensationalism, flagrant hostility, and thinly veiled propaganda is not only anchored on tenuous, shaky conjecture but also laced with outright falsehoods, all seemingly orchestrated to prop up a publication beleaguered by thinning circulation, plummeting readership, and chronic commercial stagnation," the statement read in part.
