This front page has been widely circulated on X (formerly Twitter), with users claiming it is from The Standard newspaper’s April 12, 2025, issue. The image features a headline referring to Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as bipolar, boldly asking: “Is Gachagua Mad?”
Background
In an interview with KTN News on April 7, 2025, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua made a series of explosive allegations that sparked nationwide debate. He accused President William Ruto of corruption and dishonesty, even alleging that the President was funding the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan.
Gachagua claimed Sudanese General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti, was using Kenya to launder gold from Sudan. According to him, the gold was then exported to the Middle East, and the proceeds used to fund arms purchases, fueling violence in Sudan. He stated he was opposed to Hemedti’s dealings in Kenya.
He also alleged that he refused to sign an official letter inviting Hemedti to Kenya. Due to protocol, the invitation could only come from the Deputy President. Gachagua claimed his signature was forged to facilitate the visit. When he discovered this, he says he confronted President Ruto and threatened to publicly disown the visit once Hemedti arrived. The meeting was eventually cancelled, and Gachagua claims his move was met with threats from the President.
He also accused President Ruto of pressuring former Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development, Justin Muturi, into signing a shady $1 billion deal disguised as a tree-planting initiative.
These claims were among several shared by Gachagua in the interview. After this interview, the fake The Standard front page was circulated online.
But why target The Standard specifically? Likely because the interview aired on KTN News, a station under the Standard Group. Also, The Standard has recently gained attention for its bold, hard-hitting headlines.
Verification
The first red flag is the dateline, the issue is dated Friday, April 12, 2025. However, April 12 was on a Saturday. On Saturdays, The Standard publishes the Saturday Standard, not its regular weekday edition
The Standard, through their official handle on X, shared a different front page on the same date, as seen below.
It’s also worth noting that accounts like @BiancaNaom, which have amplified this manipulated front page, have a history of participating in disinformation campaigns as investigated by Piga Firimbi here.
Verdict
The image of the front page of The Standard with the headline ‘Is Gachagua Mad?’ is FAKE.
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