Nairobi, Kenya- The Head of Creative Economy in the Office of the President, Dennis Itumbi, has launched a fresh attack on the Standard Media Group, accusing the newspaper of abandoning journalism for politics.
In a fiery statement posted on his official X account on Sunday, August 31, Itumbi alleged that the publication had consistently targeted senior government officials through what he described as “fake commentary” disguised as news.
“Dear @StandardKenya, please open a newsroom and convert it into a political party, then bring your manifesto,” he wrote. “Your daily fake commentary presented as news is a total shame to journalism.”
Itumbi, a close ally of President William Ruto, argued that the newspaper had positioned itself less as a watchdog of power and more as a rival political force.
Standard’s Headline Sparks Fury
The remarks came in response to Standard’s Sunday headline, “Unmoved by Outcry,” which profiled Cabinet Secretaries Aden Duale (Health), Kipchumba Murkomen (Interior), and Davis Chirchir (Transport). The story criticized the three CSs for failing to adequately address rising challenges in their ministries, ranging from road safety to insecurity and alleged corruption.
The Standard went further, suggesting the three had survived scandals not because of performance but due to their “unbreakable bond” with President Ruto. “In Ruto’s inner circle, survival is not about service; it is about loyalty, and scandal is merely the cost of doing business,” the article stated.
Duale Pushes Back Against Allegations
Health CS Aden Duale dismissed the newspaper’s criticism as politically motivated, claiming the stories were sponsored by entrenched cartels opposed to reforms in the health sector.
Speaking in Narok on Saturday, August 30, Duale insisted his ministry would not be derailed by vested interests fighting to protect fraudulent systems. He compared his approach to that of the late John Michuki, the former Transport and Environment Minister renowned for strict reforms despite fierce resistance.
“We will not gamble with the health of Kenyans,” Duale said. “As President William Ruto has stated, we will make healthcare accessible and equitable for all.”
The spat between Itumbi and the Standard highlights an increasingly tense relationship between the Ruto administration and sections of Kenya’s media. While government allies accuse newsrooms of bias and sabotage, editors maintain they are performing their duty of holding power accountable.
For now, Itumbi’s broadside ensures the debate over media freedom and political loyalty will remain firmly in the spotlight—especially as scrutiny over the government’s performance intensifies.
