Summary of The Standard Newspaper -July 20,2025
Page 1 : The Standard Newspaper -July 20,2025 reports that Kenya has charged 37 protesters, including activist Boniface Mwangi, with terrorism amid anti-government demonstrations, drawing criticism for suppressing dissent. Rights advocates warn this sets a dangerous precedent by labeling unrest as terrorism to deter public protest.
Page 2: Notes that Margaret Muthoni demands accountability from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) after her son was murdered by a suspect who remained employed there despite prior police warnings. She highlights systemic failures in hospital oversight.
Page 3 : Reveals that long-term patients like Peter Muchiri and Eunice Nasirombe live permanently at KNH after being abandoned by families, with social workers struggling to reintegrate them due to financial or medical challenges.
Page 4: Reports that activists accuse Kenya’s government of using terrorism charges to intimidate Gen-Z protesters, with President Ruto’s harsh tactics, including police violence, escalating tensions and scaring investors.
Page 5 : Notes that a climate of fear grips Kenya as the government targets journalists, judges, and activists with threats and arrests, stifling free speech and protests with heavy-handed responses.
Page 6 : Highlights criticism against Kenya’s DPP, Renson Ingonga, for weaponizing anti-terrorism laws against protesters, a move experts say violates rights and harms Kenya’s global reputation.
Page 7 : Reports that Kenya’s government revived a colonial-era subversion law to target critics before it was struck down as unconstitutional, marking a win for civil society.
Page 8 : Notes Defence PS Patrick Mariru’s defiance of court orders to compensate ex-soldiers wrongfully implicated in the 1982 coup, exposing a gap in the government’s rule-of-law pledges.
Page 9 : Reports COTU’s Francis Atwoli calling for inter-generational dialogue to address youth-led protests, warning that repression risks pushing Kenya into chaos.
Page 10 : Notes that 400,000 Kenyan teachers will receive salary increases (5%-29.5%) under a new Sh33 billion deal, phased over four years.
Page 11: Reports Kenyan authorities intercepting smuggled macadamia nuts at the Tanzania border and Mombasa port, with weak oversight threatening Kenya’s export reputation.
Page 12 : (Opinion) condemns KNH’s security failures after Edward Maingi Ndegwa’s murder, citing non-functional CCTV and lax oversight as systemic risks.
Page 19 : Reports concerns over Donald Trump’s second-term expansion of executive power, including sidelining Congress and weakening checks and balances.
Page 20 : Notes Kenya’s sharp fuel price surge ($19/liter) due to poor sector coordination and scrapped subsidies, leaving consumers vulnerable to global volatility.
Page 23 : Profiles Ramla Ali, a Somali-born boxer who broke barriers as Somalia’s first Olympic boxer, inspiring millions through resilience and activism.
Page 27: Highlights the CECAFA tournament as a key test for Harambee Stars ahead of CHAN 2024, with coach Benni McCarthy finalizing his squad.