Pro-government supporters on Friday morning staged a demonstration outside The Standard Group headquarters along Mombasa Road in Nairobi, protesting the media house’s coverage of President William Ruto’s administration.
The protesters arrived at the offices carrying placards and twigs, accusing the media house of portraying the government negatively in its reporting.
According to The Standard Group, the demonstrators attempted to access the premises, which host The Standard newspaper, KTN, Radio Maisha and Spice FM, but were unsuccessful.
Tensions escalated after human rights activists confronted the protesters outside the media house, with the two groups engaging in a heated exchange.
Images obtained by Vantage Ke showed the activists waving Kenyan flags as they challenged the pro-government demonstrators and expressed support for the media house’s role in reporting on matters of public interest.
"Activists rally in solidarity with the Standard Group Plc., reaffirming their support for press freedom and bold journalism," The Standard Group said.
The media house added, "Pro-Government protesters walk away from Standard Group headquarters after a confrontation with human rights activists."
The demonstration followed an announcement by some members of the social grassroots movement Bunge la Mwananchi that they planned to mobilise more than 5,000 people to protest outside the media house.
The group accused The Standard, through its newspaper and KTN News, of repeatedly publishing reports that they claimed were critical of President Ruto and his administration.
The Standard Group had notified police in advance about the planned demonstration, citing concerns about the safety of its employees and the security of its premises.
The latest confrontation comes months after President William Ruto publicly criticised the media house over its coverage of his administration, accusing it of publishing what he termed extortionist propaganda.
"Gideon Moi, your Standard Media's five days a week extortionist propaganda headlines on me and my administration's transformative track record will get you nothing and nowhere," Ruto wrote on his social media accounts.
"Blackmail to yield to your greed? Never. Kenya belongs to all Kenyans, not you alone. Try eight days a week. Do your worst," he added.
The Standard Group, however, rejected the accusations, with its Chief Executive Officer Chacha Mwita defending the media organisation's editorial independence.
