Gov. Gladys Wanga Demands Unconditional Apology from Standard Group Over “Defamatory” Homa Bay Violence Coverage
HOMA BAY, KENYA — Homa Bay County Governor H.E. Gladys Nyasuna Wanga has formally petitioned the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), demanding an immediate retraction, an unconditional apology, and statutory disciplinary action against the Standard Media Group following coverage of the violent chaos that marred the recent “Linda Mwananchi” rally led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
The formal complaint, officially received and stamped by the Media Council of Kenya on September 7, 2026, takes issue with a broadcast aired by Kenya Television Network (KTN) on September 6, 2026, and a front-page article published in The Standard newspaper on September 7, 2026. Governor Wanga characterized the media outlet’s reports regarding the August 16 violence in Homa Bay as fabricated, unverified, and deeply prejudicial to both her personal character and the integrity of the Office of the Governor.
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At the center of the dispute is a front-page photograph featured in The Standard depicting a man wielding a machete during the chaotic scenes. In her petition, Governor Wanga identified the individual in the photograph as Nicholas Odhiambo Onyando, an employee of the Siaya County Government serving as a Revenue Officer in Akala.
“The presence of a weapon-wielding officer from a neighbouring county at the scene of the conflict in Homa Bay clearly demonstrates that these acts were perpetrated by external agents,” Governor Wanga asserted. She further stated that framing the violent acts in a way that implicates her county administration represents a “grave distortion of the facts and a total failure of editorial oversight”.
The political fallout stems from the August 16 “Linda Mwananchi” tour in Homa Bay County led by Senator Sifuna, which degenerated into clashes, blockades, and violence. While opposition figures and rally organizers accused local county authorities of state-sponsored intimidation, Governor Wanga maintained that external agitators brought violence into her region to stage political theater.
Invoking Sections 6 and 45 of the Media Council Act (No. 46 of 2013), Governor Wanga accused KTN and The Standard of breaching the statutory Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism in Kenya. Specifically, the county chief cited three major violations:
- Accuracy and Fairness: Failing to independently verify grave allegations before publication and presenting speculative claims as established facts.
- Right of Reply: Suppressing and marginalizing the official substantive defense supplied by the Office of the Governor, thereby denying the public a balanced perspective.
- Accountability in Reporting: Broadcasting prejudicial material on a sensitive matter that remains under active police investigation.
“My concern is not with legitimate media scrutiny; I welcome accountability and open public discourse,” Wanga stated in her letter. “I unreservedly condemn violence and intimidation in all forms, affirm that every Kenyan has a constitutional right to visit Homa Bay and engage in peaceful assembly, and maintain that the truth must be established through impartial, evidence-based investigation”.
The Governor requested that the Media Council exercise its statutory powers to compel KTN and The Standard to issue a prominent, televised, and published retraction alongside a formal apology. Standard Media Group has yet to issue an official response to the complaint.
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