Standard Group Limited has denied issuing apology following a story that was published by Standard newspaper on Monday over alleged standoff between President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP William Ruto on Saturday at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
A statement making rounds on social media, purports that the Kenya's oldest media company was 'apologetic for publishing an inaccurate story', adding that the move was regrettable.
The story has caused online fury, with Deputy President William Ruto being the first to dismiss the claims on Sunday evening in a tweet that has since caused a storm.
But the company, which is closely linked to former President Daniel Moi, denied issuing an apology, adding that the statement which was being circulated is fake.
"Our attention has been drawn towards this letter circulating on various social media platforms with regards to a story done by The Standard. We urge our loyal audience to dismiss the letter as fake and support us in combating fake news.#GetTheWholeStory," read the statement.
In the publication, the paper claimed that President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was jetting in from Zambia on Saturday, snubbed Dr Ruto by using ordinary terminal at JKIA.
According to the sources, Uhuru was particularly unhappy by statements made by Ruto's allies on Friday, with Laikipia Woman Representative Cate Waruguru being on spot.
“Today, we are looking for enough evidence on Arror and Kimwarer dams without which we are not going to accept the charges against Mr Rotich. We know there are 28 people who are being coerced to testify against him,” she claimed.
“We summoned Matiang’i to the parliamentary committee on land to answer questions on his alleged involvement in the illegal sale of Ruaraka school land to an individual. My friend, Matiang’i knows what happened. There is someone who is not telling Uhuru the truth,” she added.
In his tweet, the DP dismissed the claims, terming the publication as fake news. According to Ruto's ally Kipchumba Murkomen, the DP was not in Nairobi at 5pm on Saturday.
"FAKE NEWS ALERT!!! I was nowhere near JKIA. I am NOT surprised that some media houses & their owners are this desperate. Tuwasamehe tu!!" The DP's tweet read.