Kenyan President William Ruto clashes with Standard Media as editor evades alleged abduction

President William Ruto has intensified a dispute with Kenya’s Standard Media Group, accusing the outlet of “extortionist propaganda” and criticizing its coverage of his frequent domestic trips. Ruto’s posts on X singled out the media house’s owner, alleging blackmail and a betrayal of journalism.

Days after the President’s attacks, Standard Group reported that Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich narrowly escaped an attempted kidnapping in Nakuru. The outlet says four armed men in a Toyota Probox tried to abduct the editor in the early hours, though authorities have not confirmed a link to Ruto’s remarks and the case remains under investigation.