Analysis of The Standard Newspaper Roundup – Sept 11, 2025
TONE
The newspaper’s tone is predominantly critical, investigative, and somber. It conveys a sense of urgency and concern regarding national security failures and governance issues. The tone shifts to one of admiration and positivity only when reporting on individual achievements, such as the award-winning teacher, creating a stark contrast with the paper’s political coverage.
TRACK
The paper is tracking themes of government failure, insecurity, and institutional dysfunction. It consistently follows stories that hold powerful state organs the executive, police, and judiciary to account for their actions or inactions. The track reveals a focus on systemic problems, from political missteps and financial mismanagement to corruption and the crippling effects of international debt.
FRAMING
The issues are framed through a lens of accountability and public interest. Security lapses are framed as a systemic “broken” failure rather than isolated incidents, and President Ruto’s administration is framed as wasteful and driven by image rather than substance. Stories are consistently anchored in their impact on ordinary citizens, such as hospital closures affecting healthcare access or high bank rates affecting borrowers.
EDITORIAL AGENDA
The editorial agenda is clearly centered on acting as a watchdog and a voice for civic accountability. It prioritizes exposing perceived government shortcomings in security, governance, and economic management. Its agenda is to inform the public of challenges and institutional conflicts, positioning the paper as a critical observer of power rather than a passive recorder of events.
CONCLUSION
This roundup is overwhelmingly anti-government in its portrayal of the current administration and state institutions. It is highly critical of the President’s performance, police incompetence, and judicial and financial governance. It is favoring the audience (the public) by aligning with the citizen’s perspective, highlighting issues that directly impact their safety, finances, and well-being, and demanding better performance from those in power.