Raila Calls on Supporters To Ignore Standard Newspaper; Terms Its Reporting Malicious

NAIROBI — Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has urged his supporters to disregard reporting by The Standard newspaper, accusing the media house of running a malicious campaign against him and his family.

In a strongly-worded statement issued Tuesday by the party’s Secretary General Senator Edwin Sifuna, ODM condemned what it termed as a “campaign of demonising and tarnishing” Mr. Odinga’s person, career, standing, and legacy by The Standard Newspapers.

The statement particularly referenced The Standard’s lead story published on Monday, May 5, 2025, which ODM described as “misleading” and “packed with lies, malice, mischief, and a clear vendetta against the Odinga family.”

“We appeal to our supporters to refuse to be blackmailed, arm twisted and intimidated by a company that is pursuing a disguised political and profit motive,” read part of the statement dated May 6, 2025.

According to ODM, The Standard’s coverage is motivated by both political and profit interests, with the newspaper allegedly attempting to “blackmail and arm twist Mr. Odinga and ODM into supporting the political position of the owners and management of the Standard Group.”

The opposition party claimed that the newspaper’s Monday coverage falsely suggested that family members of the former Prime Minister who currently hold elective and appointive positions owe their positions to a political agreement between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and ODM.

“The unmistakable insinuation in The Standard’s narrative is that anyone bearing the Odinga name has no place in Kenya’s public life — whether in elective, appointive, or even voluntary service,” the statement continued.

The party acknowledged that The Standard correctly reported that Raila Odinga currently holds no government office, his brother Oburu Odinga is an elected Senator, and his sister Winnie Odinga is a duly elected Member of the East African Legislative Assembly.

However, ODM took issue with the newspaper’s attribution of these positions to what it called a “handshake” agreement, claiming this undermines “the credibility of legitimate electoral and parliamentary processes.”

The statement also referenced Dr. Wenwa Akinyi Oranga, reportedly a daughter of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who allegedly was dismissed from her position as Chief Chemist at the Pyrethrum Board of Kenya upon discovery of her family connection.

ODM accused The Standard of serving “the political interests of a well-known family whose own members have simultaneously held multiple elective offices,” alleging double standards in the newspaper’s reporting.

The party emphasized its support for “every Kenyan holding an appointive or elective position regardless of family or region of origin, the Odingas included,” and reminded The Standard that “Kenya is a constitutional democracy founded on equality, fairness, and merit – not inherited exclusion.”

The Standard newspaper had not responded to ODM’s allegations by press time.