Kenya's Standard Newspaper Didn't Call Politician Fred Matiang'i 'Barbarian' or 'Unrepentant' - Viral Front Pages Fabricated

11 November 2025
Africa Check (Johannesburg)
By Makinia Juma Sylvia

Kenya's Standard newspaper didn't call politician Fred Matiang'i 'barbarian' or 'unrepentant' - viral front pages fabricated

IN SHORT: Two front pages mimicking the design of the Standard newspaper label Kenyan politician and presidential hopeful Fred Matiang'i as "primitive" and "unrepentant". But they are fake and should be ignored.

Two similar front pages have been circulating online since late October 2025, both carrying sensational headlines about the Kenyan opposition politician and presidential hopeful, Fred Matiang'i.

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They appear to be covers of the Standard, one of Kenya's leading daily newspapers.

One, dated on 28 October, is headlined: "Primitive Matiang'i."

Its summary reads: "Barbarian: Fred Matiang'i shocked many by gifting Mama Ida Odinga a framed photo of himself alongside Raila Odinga during a condolence visit. What was meant to be a gesture of sympathy turned into a tone-deaf display more about self-promotion than comfort. Many saw it as a primitive and insensitive act that completely missed the moment's solemnity."

Raila Odinga, Kenya's former prime minister, died on 15 October 2025 after suffering a cardiac arrest in India, where he was receiving medical treatment. He was buried on 19 October.

The other, dated 29 October, had the headline: "I won't apologize for River Yala killings."

Its summary reads: "Unrepentant: In yet another show of arrogance, Fred Matiang'i now says he won't apologize for the River Yala killings that happened under his watch as Interior CS. Instead of showing remorse or leadership, the self-proclaimed presidential hopeful prefers to pass the blame to others. If this is how he handles accountability, imagine what would happen if he ever held the top seat Kenya would need more than a River to wash away the mess."

It references public controversy from 2022 about bodies recovered from the River Yala in western Kenya, which human-rights groups linked to extrajudicial killings.

Matiang'i served as a cabinet secretary in various ministries under former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta between 2013 and 2022. He has been endorsed by the Jubilee Party, led by Kenyatta, to run for president in the 2027 general elections. Matiang'i has also been a vocal critic of president William Ruto's administration, frequently expressing disapproval of his leadership style.

Matiang'i was the interior cabinet secretary when the killings happened, and he consistently denied any wrongdoing. The second front page misrepresents this denial to imply that he has now admitted guilt.

The front pages started circulating after Matiang'i announced he would be seeking the presidency on a Jubilee party ticket. They come at a sensitive time in Kenya's political landscape, where disinformation is frequently used to tarnish the reputations of prominent figures, particularly those positioned as potential challengers in the 2027 general elections.

But are these front pages authentic? We checked.

Fake front pages

Africa Check compared the circulating front pages with a genuine one from the Standard newspaper and noted significant differences in their fonts, indicating that they could be inauthentic.

We traced the origin of these front pages to a Facebook page called Daily Standard, which has previously posted digitally altered front pages mimicking the design of the Standard.

The Standard usually posts digital versions of its front pages on its verified social media accounts, including Facebook and X, as well as on its e-paper platform. We searched these accounts and the platform and located the authentic front pages for 28 and 29 October 2025.

The genuine 28 October Standard newspaper issue had the headline: "Keep off politics." It covered cabinet secretaries using public resources and state platforms to campaign for United Democratic Alliance candidates, prompting the Law Society of Kenya to demand that civil servants cease all partisan political activity.

On 27 October, Matiang'i visited Odinga's wife, Ida Odinga, and gifted her a photo of himself with the former prime minister. But the Standard newspaper did not report on this as a "primitive and insensitive act".

The genuine issue from 29 October carried the headline: "Samia vs Suluhu." It highlighted how opposition members had been excluded from Tanzania's election, rendering it a one-horse race.

The circulating front pages are fake and should be ignored.

Read the original story, with links and other resources.
Africa Check is a non-partisan organisation which promotes accuracy in public debate and in the media. Twitter @AfricaCheck and www.africacheck.org

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