Kenyans have been sharing two viral images that appear to be front pages of the Standard newspaper, each featuring sensational headlines about former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua and Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga. A closer look shows that these covers are fabricated. The fake front pages, which first appeared online in October 2025, carry the headlines “Angel of Death” and “Voice of the Devil.” They mimic the Standard’s layout, complete with a masthead, large headline and a prominent photograph of the political figures, and the accompanying summaries portray Gachagua and Kahiga as toxic personalities, suggesting the newspaper had published harsh stories about them.
Gachagua served as Kenya’s deputy president from 2022 until his impeachment in October 2024 and has been a vocal critic of President William Ruto. Kahiga, the governor of Nyeri County, is seen as one of Gachagua’s close allies, and their association has sparked speculation about a Mount Kenya‑based coalition opposing Ruto’s influence. The fabricated front pages began circulating after the death of former prime minister Raila Odinga on 15 October 2025, a period when online debates were focused on differing political reactions to his illness and death. The timing suggests the fake covers were intended to cast Gachagua and Kahiga as divisive figures during a sensitive national moment.
An investigation by Africa Check compared the circulating images with a genuine Standard front page and found significant font differences, confirming they are not authentic. The source of the fake pages was traced to a Facebook page called “Daily Standard,” which has previously posted digitally altered front pages that imitate the Standard’s design. The real Standard publishes digital versions of its front pages on its verified social‑media accounts and e‑paper platform. A search of those accounts for the dates in question revealed the authentic front pages for 21 and 22 October, which carried the headlines “Honoured in death” and “Out with freedoms,” respectively—none of which mentioned Gachagua or Kahiga.
The spread of fake news can have serious consequences, especially during delicate national events. Verifying information through reputable sources is essential to avoid disseminating misinformation. In this case, the fabricated front pages were likely created to manipulate public opinion and inflame political tensions.
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