Standard Group CEO Sam Shollei Allegedly Threatens to Fight Kenya’s Anti-Corruption Chief

There was a fiery exchange in an audio recording believed to have been between Ethics & Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chairman Mr Mumo Matemu with another party believed to have been Standard Group CEO Sam Shollei.

The voice believed to be Mr Shollei’s threatens to “bring down the EACC and its Chairman” if Gladys Shollei, his wife is prosecuted for alleged corruption. According to the voice, the wife is innocent and the body is welcome to check the couple’s property and bank details and is ready and willing to help them find any evidence of corruption against her.

According to COFEK which earlier reported this, “A very emotional Mr Shollei is heard fighting on phone, over prosecution of his younger brother (at the IEBC) and his wife, Gladys (formerly the Chief Registrar at the Judiciary). He appears to be blaming EACC Secretary Mr Halake Waqo whom he refers as a “Somali getting you out of town” and wants Mr Matemu to “take charge”.”The anger is itself not an issue because it’s a family affair but questions arise on how he knew and called Matemu on the prosecution. How much power he has to bring down the anti-corruption chief apart from his media empire? Are there CEO’s using their media empires for mudslinging?

Other questions arising include how ready and sure was he to dig and expose the chief’s personal life? Is he snooping everyone’s phone in town or is he runing his own intelligence unit to know what agency is planning what? Is Standard Group intercepting Matemu’s communications or probably yours for its scoops? Will this lead to a scandal like Rupert Murdoch’s?

Get the entire story on COFEK‘s site. Standard Group is the second biggest media house in Kenya after Nation Media Group and runs print, TV and online media.