Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has demanded an apology by the Standard Newspapers for story which seemed to allege that he is having an affair with a young church member.
The allegations by the newspaper however did not mention the CS but it mentions that the cabinet minister in question is a ‘no-nonsense, outspoken and strong Christian’ who also serves as an elder in the church.
The article claims the minister was having an affair with a young soloist in the church choir and has allegedly bought her a house within the city.
The paper claimed the alleged affair came to light after the woman’s mother and the CS’s wife reportedly got wind of it.
According to the story, the minister’s wife confronted the girl’s mother, forcing the young girl to confirm the allegations which has shocked most of the church members.
Reacting to the story through a letter on Thursday to the paper, Interior communications director Mwenda Njoka demanded for the retraction of the story and an apology in seven days.
“In an article previously published in your newspaper, you have used adjectives such as ‘no-nonsense, outspoken and strong Christian’ to describe CS Matiang’i. It is for this reason that we have reason to believe the CS your article was disparagingly referring to is Matiang’i,” reads part of the letter addressed to the editorial director.
He said that the article contained unsubstantiated claims that were not accompanied by “a shred of evidence”.
“The net effect was to defame and vilify an innocent public servant in the eyes of his peers, family, and right thinking members of the public.”
