Journalists take sides in William Ruto political wars.

A group of editors from two media houses is being accused by senior politicians from Rift Valley allied to William Ruto as being used to tame him politically. To start the programme rolling, they are to portray the DP as having lost support in the populous region according to them. The editors from Star and Standard newspapers are being accused of giving blackout to Ruto on grounds that he was not giving them an ear like when he was a minister. Another politician said the owners of the two organisations have given instructions to editors and reporters to dwell less on issues on Ruto especially in Rift Valley region. “If you want to get the truth of this matter, check on the news by the two media houses whenever the DP has functions in any part of the country and compare with the rest. You will find that the two concentrate on negativities on Ruto and ignore anything good he says,” they said. They revealed that two media houses were also not happy with the way Ruto has abandoned them after getting the second highest office in the land. The source singled out the manner in which the Star has been following the matter of the Weston Hotel. The source said politicians from other parts of the country were particularly using journalists from Kalenjin community and who well understand the background of Ruto to look for negative stories. It is said that a lady who has joined the weekend editorial edition and who specialises with political opinion is among those being used to spearhead the smear campaigns against Ruto in one of the publications. “Just get the Saturday Standard and Weekend Star and read the stories which are published on political opinions and familiarise yourself with what is going on in these two papers. But the real culprits who want Ruto finished politically are hiding behind such people while the truth is that they are the originators of such stories,” said the source. The source said the reason why the Standard has been focusing more on Rift Valley is because they want to portray Ruto as someone who has lost votes in the region in favour of Kanu chairman Gideon Moi. “These editors are working day and night and they have told staff under them to be vigilant during Ruto meetings so that they can highlight anything they think negative to him,” said the source. The source said the editors know that it is difficult to penetrate Rift valley especially among the Kalenjin community without the support of Ruto but they just want to spoil for him because he has refused to bend backwards to accommodate their appetite for fat anvelopes. “The editors want somebody who can pick their calls and who can do the way they want. But Ruto, we understand from the time he realised that the editors were pursuing selfish and personal agendas, he decided to keep off. This is why you see negative stories about him all the time,” said the source. The source said the reason why Ruto decided to say newspapers are for wrapping meat is because of such kind of situations. “Editors should know that Ruto is not someone who depends on media for his survival as far as politics are concerned. They should know that voters are people who are not swayed by newspapers,” added the source. Another journalist said Raila Odinga and other Cord leaders enjoy a lot of publicity because they take care of editors. He said an opposition leader has rented a senior editor with Standard newspaper a house in Lavington and that is why the newspaper cannot publish anything negative about him so long as the editor is around. The journalist said reporters in the field are sometimes punished by editors if they write positive stories about the DP. “I am telling you these editors have declared war on Ruto because of their selfish agendas. They know they cannot influence voters against him but just want to tarnish his image before professionals and the international community,” said the source adding it is now clear that the editors were determined to finish Ruto but they are fighting a losing war.