Is this a Legitimate Standard Newspaper front page for the May 6, 2025, issue?

By Mercy Achieng.

A Facebook post shared an image purportedly showing the front page of The Standard newspaper’s May 6, 2025, issue. The headline on this reads, “Gachagua to take break for mental health treatment.” 

Background

This graphic surfaced during a period of high-stakes political maneuvering, following Gachagua’s 2024 impeachment and as early 2027 presidential campaign narratives began to take shape.

The post targets Rigathi Gachagua, who served as Kenya’s Deputy President until his impeachment in October 2024. This front page fits into a documented pattern of malicious propaganda designed to undermine his political standing by fabricating a decline in his mental health.

Founded in 1902, The Standard is Kenya’s oldest and most reputable daily newspaper, making its trusted brand a frequent target for bad actors trying to give fake news institutional credibility.

Verification

A search on The Standard’s verified social media accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook showed that the actual headline for the newspaper’s May 6, 2025, edition was “Burden of Advisers,” a story focusing on the cost of government consultants. 

The layout in the image dated May 6, 2025, is a complete fabrication. The post uses a manipulated graphic of The Standard newspaper’s front page to give it an appearance of professionalism and authenticity.

A closer look at the front page reveals it was poorly edited and faked.  The sub-headline contains an editorial mistake that a professional newspaper would never make. It uses the broken phrase, “In a statement, and political pressure.” 

The real newspaper logo always includes the words “SINCE 1902.” In this fake version, that text is either missing or very blurry, showing that the logo was copied from somewhere else. 

Verdict

The alleged Standard newspaper front page, for the May 6, 2025, issue, is FAKE.