Gachagua demands retraction, apology over 'defamatory' article
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Courtesy photo
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has expressed deep concern over an article published by ‘The Sunday Standard’ on August 18, 2024, which he describes as defamatory and misleading.
The article titled "Gachagua’s Persona that is his Undoing" was featured on page 1, with a continuation on pages 6 and 7.
The article, according to handlers of the second in command, suggested that Mr Gachagua’s “indecisiveness nature is his greatest weakness that could lead to his downfall.”
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Standard Group PLC, the DP's office has demanded an immediate retraction and apology from the publication within seven(7) days.
The Deputy Presidential Communication Service, led by Njeri Rugene, accused the newspaper of "yellow journalism at its worst" for failing to uphold the tenets of the Right of Reply and Objectivity.
"The fact that the tenets of Journalism of the Right of Reply and Objectivity were deliberately ignored, clearly indicates that the sole motive of the article was to disparage and bring disrepute to the Deputy President," said Ms Rugene.
The letter also labeled the allegations, which included claims of Mr Gachagua’s involvement with foreign states in destabilising Kenya.
The DP’s office has called on The Standard Group to retract the "falsehoods" and issue an apology with equal prominence.
