Charlene Ruto wins temporary court orders blocking Standard Group from publishing police uniform claims

Charlene Ruto, the daughter of President William Ruto, has secured temporary court orders stopping the Standard Group from further publishing or sharing claims that link her to a major police uniform contract.

The High Court granted the interim orders after she challenged a report that appeared in The Standard on August 30, 2026.

That report featured a front-page story and an inside article that she said connected her, either directly or by implication, to the Sh2.8 billion tender for new uniforms for the Kenya Police Service.In her application, Charlene argued that the stories created the impression she had taken part in the procurement, supplied materials under the contract, or somehow benefited from it.

She told the court the reports had already caused her reputational damage and that keeping them online risked further harm as people continued to share and repost them.

She had earlier sent the media house a formal demand seeking a correction, retraction and apology, but the articles remained accessible on digital platforms.

According to court documents, the National Police Service later clarified that a company mentioned in some of the reporting, Nalitex Limited, did not take part in the tender process, was not awarded the contract, did not act as a subcontractor, and received no payment related to the deal.

The service identified Bedi Investments Limited as the company that won the contract. Charlene’s lawyers pointed to this clarification as further reason why the contested claims should not continue circulating.

The court granted her request to stop the Standard Group from repeating, republishing, distributing or otherwise spreading the specific allegations while the case proceeds. The media house has been given seven days to file its response. The matter is scheduled for mention on October 19, 2026, when the court will give further directions.

The case has drawn attention because it involves both a high-profile public figure and questions of media reporting on government procurement.

Charlene maintains she had no involvement in the uniform tender and that the continued publication of the claims was causing ongoing injury to her reputation.

The interim orders do not decide the full dispute; they simply pause further dissemination of the challenged allegations until the court can hear both sides more fully.