Standard Journalists Barred from State House as Tensions with Government Escalate

 

By Linda Muhanji

Journalists from the Standard Group were barred from covering a State House event on Saturday, May 31, during the official visit of Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar, sparking renewed concerns over press freedom and growing tension between the media and government.

While other accredited media outlets were cleared to cover the high-level diplomatic engagement, Standard Group reporters were reportedly singled out and denied entry. Sources familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated the order came from higher authorities, though no formal explanation was provided by State House.

Fallout from Critical Coverage

The move comes just days after The Standard published a sharply worded editorial labelling Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport Kipchumba Murkomen as a “Below Average CS.” The front-page critique, which circulated widely, is believed to have ruffled feathers among senior government officials.

CS Murkomen later defended the performance of government officials, particularly within law enforcement, stating that critics often fail to understand the complex realities of public service and national security.

Broader Disruptions and Growing Concerns

Tensions between the government and the Standard Group had already been escalating. On May 23, the media house experienced a technical disruption that temporarily knocked KTN, Radio Maisha, Spice FM, and Berur FM off air. The group attributed the outage to a technical fault and confirmed that services remained available online as engineers worked to restore normal transmission.

Diplomatic Visit Overshadowed

The exclusion of Standard journalists occurred during the visit of President Musar of Slovenia, who is in Kenya as a Chief Guest for Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay County on June 1. Her trip, part of a broader bilateral initiative, is focused on economic development, digital innovation, regional security, and multilateral cooperation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Earlier in the week, President William Ruto held talks with the Slovenian leader at State House, where both sides reportedly explored trade partnerships, digital transformation, and peacebuilding efforts between East Africa and Europe.

Press Freedom in Focus

As of press time, Standard Group had not issued an official response to the incident, and State House remained silent on the matter. However, the barring of journalists has drawn sharp criticism from media rights groups, who warn that selective access based on editorial position threatens the independence of the press.

“Kenya’s Constitution clearly guarantees freedom of the media and the public’s right to information. Blocking journalists from covering national events undermines these rights,” said a spokesperson for a leading press freedom organization.

The incident has reignited national debate on the state of government-media relations and the growing perception of political intolerance toward critical journalism.

As Kenya celebrates 62 years of self-rule, the exclusion of journalists from such a symbolic national moment raises fundamental questions about transparency, democracy, and the role of a free press in governance.

June 01, 2025