Summary Of The Standard Newspaper
Page 1: Reports detail that President Ruto’s choice of a private jet for a trip to Addis Ababa cost taxpayers over Sh12 million, a stark extravagance compared to the Sh1.8 million it would have cost for a commercial flight with aides, amidst a national debt crisis.
Page 2: Report states that the Supreme Court has expressed concern over a deep-seated public trust deficit in the IEBC, fueled by decades of political interference and attacks on its independence.
Page 3: Reports reveal that extracted WhatsApp messages from cult preacher Paul Mackenzie show he instructed his followers to abandon their homes and fast in the wilderness of Shakahola while awaiting the end of the world.
Page 4: Reports state that President Ruto’s administration has severely rolled back democratic freedoms, with critics citing a sharp decline in the right to protest and free expression, met by state brutality including live ammunition and abductions.
Page 6: Reports portray the late Dalmas Otieno as a rare politician who served across multiple administrations and defended his right to work with the government, challenging the Odinga family’s accusations of betrayal.
Page 8: Reports detail that President Ruto chartered a luxurious, high-end Gulfstream GV jet for his trip to Addis Ababa, an aircraft costing an estimated Sh2.3 to Sh3.3 million per hour to operate.
Page 9: Reports indicate the High Court has suspended the operations of a presidential-appointed compensation panel, chaired by Prof. Makau Mutua, pending the hearing of a challenge against its establishment.
Page 10: Reports state that President Ruto’s plan to grant legal immunity to global tech firms via the Business Laws Bill is facing a constitutional challenge from workers who accuse the Senate of legislative capture and failing to allow public participation.
Page 12: Reports indicate that St. George’s Girls Secondary School in Nairobi was closed indefinitely after students staged a violent protest over the alleged assault of a pupil by a teacher, igniting an all-night standoff.
Page 13: Reports state that the Law Society of Kenya has petitioned the High Court to compel state agencies to create and enforce a binding code of conduct with sanctions for MPs to curb decades of unchecked hate speech and incitement.
Page 18: Reports confirm the government has released Sh4 billion to the Social Health Authority to cover public servants’ medical insurance, with officials urging widespread registration in the new health plan.
Page 20: Reports indicate the government has launched a crash training program for its officers on the new e-procurement system amid frustrations from small-scale suppliers who lack guidance on the platform.
Page 32: Reports indicate that while the government borrowed more through an overdraft facility in the last financial year due to low interest rates, it paid Sh2.19 billion less in interest, though the Controller of Budget warns rising rates will increase future costs.
Page 48: Reports state that the Harambee Stars will play Seychelles in a dead-rubber World Cup qualifier at Kasarani, with both teams already eliminated from contention.