Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and Lang'ata MP Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang'o, of financing an attack on Standard Group. The allegations emerged after an alleged whistleblower claimed that leaked audio exposed payments linked to the protest. Gachagua stated that the October 2, 2026, incident was intended to disrupt the media house's operations and undermine its ability to publish newspapers.
According to the whistleblower, Sudi allegedly contributed KSh500,000, while Jalang'o provided KSh200,000 to support the operation. The claims have not been independently verified. The source said the claims emerged after an audio recording circulated in a WhatsApp group used by individuals involved in planning the protest. The recording allegedly revealed that some organisers had received money to facilitate the protest.
The whistleblower claimed that 10 individuals drawn from three groups supporting the government participated in planning the demonstration. The stated objective was to mobilise at least 500 people to protest against Standard Group's coverage of President William Ruto's administration. The source said the organisers held several meetings to discuss funding, mobilisation, and the amount each participant would receive.
The proposed payments reportedly ranged from KSh400 to KSh1,000 per protester. The whistleblower added that the organisers met at Jimlizer in Buruburu on the eve of the protest to agree on how the money would be distributed. According to the account, the plan was to reconvene in Buruburu at 6am on the day of the demonstration before distributing money to protesters gathering at Bellevue.
Despite the reported disagreements, a group of protesters eventually marched towards the media house carrying placards, with some individuals arriving on motorbikes. The whistleblower further alleged that divisions within the organising team led to confrontations between rival factions. The source claimed that some organisers, including individuals identified as Sally Raghet and Gazemba, had planned to turn against other members over disagreements concerning the money.
A leaked audio recording allegedly captured Sally Raghet complaining about the amount she had received for her role in the demonstration. The authenticity and full context of the recordings were not established in the account provided. Tensions between Standard Group and government supporters have been growing over the media house's reporting.
The October 2 confrontation followed weeks of growing tension between Standard Group and supporters of President Ruto's administration over the media house's reporting. Days before the demonstration, individuals identifying themselves as members of Bunge La Mwananchi accused The Standard newspaper and KTN of biased reporting against the government.
Key points
- Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accused MPs Oscar Sudi and Jalang'o of financing a protest against Standard Group.
- The alleged whistleblower claimed that Sudi and Jalang'o contributed KSh500,000 and KSh200,000 respectively to support the operation.
- The protest was reportedly planned to disrupt Standard Group's operations and undermine its ability to publish newspapers.
