File image of President Ruto and Gideon Moi in Kabarak.
President William Ruto has launched a scathing attack on KANU Chairman Gideon Moi, accusing the Standard Media Group of running negative coverage against his administration.
In a statement on Wednesday, Ruto claimed that the Standard newspaper headlines against his administration have ulterior motives.
The Head of State noted that the publication’s continued criticism of his administration would not influence government decisions.
Ruto alleged that the negative headlines were aimed at advancing personal interests, insisting that he would not bow to what he termed as blackmail.
“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.
“Blackmail to yield to your greed? Never. Kenya belongs to all Kenyans, not you alone. Try eight days a week. Do your worst,” the President stated.
The Standard newspaper, in recent months, published a series of hard-hitting headlines scrutinising the Ruto government’s policies on cost of living, taxation, public debt, among others.
In March, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) raised concerns over what it described as a persistent pattern of sensationalism and publication of unverified information by the media house.
President Ruto’s outburst comes months after he met Gideon Moi at State House, Nairobi, and later the former Baringo Senator hosted him at his Kabarak home in Nakuru.
However, the truce was short-lived as their agreement to work together failed to materialize after the two meetings.
The two leaders who hail from the Rift Valley have long been at odds with each other.
