Former Justice Minister and People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has weighed in on the growing standoff between President William Ruto and the Standard Media Group, telling the Head of State that the solution to negative headlines lies not in attacking the media but in addressing the country’s challenges.

Responding to the President’s criticism in a post on her X handle on Thursday, June 25, 2026, Karua dismissed the attacks on the media and instead urged the government to focus on delivering results for Kenyans.

“Ruto, just fix the country; the headlines will fix themselves,” Karua said.

Ruto takes on Standard

Karua’s remarks came after President Ruto publicly accused Standard Group owner Gideon Moi of attempting to blackmail his administration through persistent negative media coverage.

In a strongly worded statement posted on his official X account on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Ruto claimed the media house had made a habit of publishing headlines designed to portray his government negatively.

“Gideon Moi, your Standard Media’s five-day-a-week extortionist propaganda headlines about 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 wrote.

The exchange follows a series of hard-hitting front-page stories by Standard Media Group highlighting issues such as the rising cost of living, youth unemployment, public debt, corruption allegations, and growing public dissatisfaction with government policies.

Ruto, however, accused the media house of deliberately pursuing a negative agenda against his administration. The president suggested that some of the coverage was politically motivated and intended to undermine his government’s achievements.

Ruto escalates feud

On Thursday, June 25, 2026, Ruto escalated the feud in yet another X post, accusing the media group of exploiting its workers and delaying salaries for its employees.

Ruto accused the ownership of hiding behind financial struggles while allegedly subjecting workers to months of unpaid labour, even as the media outlet continued to publish critical coverage of his administration.

“Bro, the billionaire you are, hiding behind ‘debts’ and forcing many months’ unpaid labour slaving to defend your Standard headlines’ extortion and gangsterism driven by greed, is heartless to loyal workers, an insult to journalism and a betrayal to the free media that Standard once belonged to,” Ruto stated.

In a quick rejoinder on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Standard quickly fired back at the president, sharing a cryptic message accompanied by an illustration of Ruto on a newspaper cover.

“Due to overwhelming demand, we are printing the standard eight days a week! To meet your demand. Orders from above LOL. Eight days a week, all for you. Stay informed. Stay ahead. Read the Standard,” the standard stated.

The latest exchange adds another chapter to the increasingly tense relationship between President Ruto’s administration and sections of the media, with press freedom in question following the developments and signs of attempts to curtail independent journalism.