Gachagua Singles Out Standard Media Group Over Rogue DP Article

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, on Thursday, February 23 continued his relentless assault on Kenyan media, but in this case, he zeroed in on the Standard Media Group (SMG).

While speaking at a burial in Gatanga, Murang'a County, the DP attacked the over 100-year-old media house over a cover story that raised doubts over his leadership style and dress code.

He specifically referred to the article Rogue Deputy President and accused KANU chairperson, Gideon Moi, of using the media to paint a bad picture about him and his boss, President William Ruto, for his selfish political gain.

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi speaks at a church service in AIPCA, Bahati, Nairobi County on August 8, 2021. /CAPITAL GROUP

Gachagua believed that Kenyan media houses were being biased and urged Kenyans to be wary when reading some news articles.

"I've seen the Standard, owned by Gideon Moi, write a whole page that Rigathi Gachagua is a rogue Deputy President. That Gideon Moi is an Azimio fellow. You don't expect him to write anything good about us.

"If William Ruto and I, if our fate was to be decided by the press, Ruto would be in Sugoi and I would be in Wamunyoro village. But your opinion does not count in this country, that is why we ignore you and give you the content to cut," he stated.

Gachagua remained firm on his quest to speak the truth in black and white, even though some of his statements have been known to ruffle feathers across various circles. According to him, some Kenyans and the media were allergic to the truth.

"You can write headlines, but you'll never stop us from speaking the truth. You know the people of Kenya and the press are not used to the truth. Rigathi Gachagua is a truthful man and I'll always say it as it is, whether you like it or not," he went on.

Turning to the media, Gachagua urged media houses to report their stories objectively while appreciating Kenyans for disregarding a section of media reports that rebuked his lifestyle prior to being elected as the second-in-command.

"Media people, please stand by your leadership style. You stated everything about me, including that I'm a villager, unkempt, I don't know how to dress and useless.

"All those things are ignored, the people of Kenya ignored you too and elected me as Deputy President," he added.

Gachagua also called on the media to quote his exact words in his stories, even as neither Gideon Moi nor The Standard was yet to respond to his bold claims by the time of publication.

"To the people of the media, go and publish what I have said, there's nowhere you are going to take us, you tried to beat us down alongside the system, deep state, Azimio and Gideon Moi, we beat you 9-0. We don't fear you, if we were not afraid of Uhuru, will we fear the print journalists?

"You know the newspaper journalists and social media netizens used to profile me...but I kept quiet. We went to the debate against Martha Karua, they did not give me space. I was given 90 minutes, I left after I demolished her," he added.

Gachagua further accused the media of living in denial and praying every day for a disagreement between him and Ruto for virality in their stories, assuring Kenyans that the Kenya Kwanza government will remain firm as the two work together for the betterment of Kenyans.

In a thinly-veiled attack, Gachagua hinted at knowing those who pay the media to write bad stories about him, those who are also funding the cartels that have been disrupting the various food sectors.

"Those ten people behind the milk company your day is coming we will deal with you," he warned.