The government has called out The Standard newspaper for associating President William Ruto’s scheduled development tour of the Mt Kenya region with the outlawed Mungiki sect.
In its issue on Monday, March 31, the Standard Group-owned newspaper sensationally claimed Mungiki is actively involved in the planning of President Ruto’s tour set to begin on Tuesday, April 1.
However, in a heavily worded statement, the Head of the Presidential Communication Service Munyoru Buku dismissed the allegation as false, malicious and reckless.
"The Standard marks yet another descent into the bottomless tabloid abyss. The outrageous, outlandish claim that a proscribed group is involved in planning the president's tour of the Mt Kenya region this week is not only manifestly false, but it is also dangerously irresponsible, reckless and inciteful," said Buku.State House countered the allegation, clarifying that President Ruto has held consultative meetings with regional governors and national government officials to plan the visit.
"Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has similarly engaged Members of Parliament and Senators from the region in preparation; and that the local leadership, security agencies, and communities are more than capable of coordinating a presidential tour without resorting to the involvement of nefarious groups," Buku added.The government rebuked the Standard Group for failing to exercise a minimum of journalistic integrity and even accord the presidency a right of reply to the grave allegation.
"In an act of pure contempt for the principles of credible journalism, the paper didn't even bother to seek a comment from the Presidency a fundamental tenet of responsible reporting. But this is hardly surprising from a publication that knows too well that a fabricated story collapses the moment it is subjected to the slightest of scrutiny," said Buku.
