Standard newspaper celebrates 100 years of existence

Imagine running a company for an entire century yet still maintaining high quality standards and a good reputation amongst your clients? It’s got to take a great team right from the leadership to the subordinate. This is what Kenya’s oldest newspaper, The Standard is celebrating today – 100 years in the market.

The Standard is one of the largest newspapers in Kenya with a 48% market share.It is owned by The Standard Group, which also runs the Kenya Television Network (KTN), Radio Maisha, The Nairobian (a weekly tabloid) and Standard Digital which is its online platform.

The newspaper was founded as the African Standard in 1902 as a weekly by Alibhai Mulla Jeevanjee, an immigrant businessman from India.

Jeevanjee later sold the paper to two British businessmen in 1905, who changed the name to the East African Standard making it a daily paper with strong colonialist viewpoints. A few months before independence, the British-based Lonrho Group bought the newspaper and the paper changed its name to The Standard in 1977 but that didn’t last long as the name East African Standard was revived later.

In 1995, the paper was sold to Kenyan investors who eventually changed the name back to The Standard in 20014.

For many years, the paper has been the main rival to Kenya’s largest newspaper, the Daily Nation which is owned by the Nation Media Group. However, to mark this great milestone and to thank their readers, Standard Group is today selling the daily newspaper for Ksh. 50 which is Ksh. 10 less than what it would usually go for.

The Standard Newspaper is celebrating 100 years of media service,all thanks to you! In light of this, you can grab a copy of your favorite newspaper for ten shillings less, as we say thank you for all you have done for us!#StandardGroup100Years pic.twitter.com/dbDrHZcsrD

— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) December 5, 2018