The administration of President William Ruto, through the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, has reported the People Daily newspaper to the Media Council of Kenya (MCK). This comes after the newspaper’s front-page story on Wednesday, September 4, carried the headline, “How Ruto Lies Killed Nithi 12.”

The headline referred to a tragic road accident at Nithi Bridge on the Meru-Embu highway on September 1, which claimed the lives of 12 people. The People Daily criticised the government for failing to fix the bridge, a blackspot that President Ruto had previously promised to address during his election campaign.

According to the complaint lodged by the Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Edward Kisiangani, the government asked MCK to take action against the publication, accusing it of publishing “contemptuous” articles about the presidency and other government offices. “This office seeks your intervention to institute any further action against the publishers of this article, in line with existing laws and regulations that may serve as a deterrent measure against future similar journalistic misbehaviours,” Kisiangani’s complaint read.

People Daily and its parent company, Mediamax, argued that the government’s complaint was an attempt to intimidate journalists for their bold coverage of the Kenya Kwanza administration. They claimed the government’s actions threaten press freedom and are an attempt to silence media criticism. “The government has reported People Daily newspaper to the Media Council of Kenya for publishing stories critical of President William Ruto or other government officers,” K24 reported on Twitter.

The controversy follows the emergence of a video of President Ruto during his campaign period, promising to fix the Nithi Bridge, which has been a notorious blackspot for accidents. “The section of the busy road is a big threat to travellers, and the only solution is to redesign it,” Ruto said in the video.

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Two years later, this promise remains unfulfilled, fuelling criticism and raising questions about the government’s commitment to road safety. Some Kenyans have expressed frustration over the lack of action, pointing to the repeated tragedies at the bridge.

The incident highlights growing tensions between the government and the media regarding freedom of the press and the accountability of public officials.