Journalists from the Standard Media Group were on Saturday 31st May 2025 denied entry to State House to cover the state visit of Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar.
Despite receiving official invitations and arriving punctually at Gate D for verification, Standard’s reporters were the only ones barred, while their peers from other media outlets were granted access.
After a three-hour wait, two police officers—one in uniform and another in plain clothes—arrived with a list of approved journalists, which notably excluded those from Standard’s KTN.
No official explanation was provided for this exclusion, but it aligns with a broader pattern of escalating tensions between President William Ruto’s administration and the Standard Media Group.
A Pattern of Retaliation
The denial of access is the latest in a series of actions perceived as punitive measures against Standard Media Group for its critical reporting on the government.
The media house has consistently published investigative pieces exposing alleged corruption and inefficiencies within the Ruto administration.
In response, the government has reportedly employed various strategies to suppress the media group’s operations.
In March 2025, the Ministry of ICT canceled Standard’s participation in a government-funded irrigation campaign, citing “administrative advice.”
This move effectively cut off significant advertising revenue, a vital income stream for the media house. Edward Kisiang’ani, the Broadcasting Principal Secretary, confirmed the cancellation, which was widely interpreted as retaliation for Standard’s critical coverage.
Furthermore, Standard’s Editor-in-Chief, Ochieng Rapuro, disclosed that the government owes the media house approximately KSh700 million in unpaid advertising dues.
This financial strain was further compounded by alleged tax pressures from the Kenya Revenue Authority to pay up.
The government’s antagonism towards Standard Media Group extends beyond financial measures.
In July 2024, Attorney General Justin Muturi announced legal action against the media house over a headline suggesting he blamed President Ruto for certain governmental missteps. Muturi claimed the statements were misattributed and demanded a retraction.
Implications for Press Freedom
The actions against Standard Media Group are indicative of a broader trend of diminishing press freedom in Kenya.
The World Press Freedom Index reported a decline in Kenya’s ranking, dropping to position 116 in 2023 from 69 the previous year. This decline reflects increasing challenges faced by journalists, including economic coercion, legal threats, and restricted access to information.
Media watchdogs and civil society organizations have expressed alarm over these developments, emphasizing the essential role of a free press in a democratic society.
The Editors’ Guild of Kenya rceently called for investigations into the government’s actions against media houses, advocating for the protection of journalists’ rights and the preservation of editorial independence.
