With the shortlisting of Dennis Itumbi for a Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) position in President William Ruto’s government, the Digital Strategist may just have hit full circle.
In January 2023, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua intimated that Itumbi was a close friend of Ruto and that his role in his government was that of ‘come here, go there.'
Itumbi, the self-proclaimed spokesperson of the ‘hustler nation’ seems to be reaping the rewards of his insurmountable loyalty to President Ruto or is he?
His first stint in public service was in 2014 after he was appointed the Director of Digital Strategy, Innovation & Diaspora Relations in former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.
It is during that tenure that Itumbi who made news headlines for crafting hashtags came up with the line ‘system ya facts’ a digital campaign that sought to defend the government’s policy decisions while suppressing the opposition online onslaught.
He however fell out with Kenyatta after his re-election in 2017 due to his anti-government online activism which led to his dismissal from work and the State House.
His eventual appointment to the government could also be a way for Ruto to tame the overzealous nature of Itumbi who has made a niche in castigating the government of the day while spilling 'sensitive' information to the public.
This is compounded by President Ruto instructing his Cabinet appointees to steer away from politics and focus on service delivery
Itumbi took on his former boss Kenyatta through a popular online campaign dubbed 'Hustler Nation Intelligence Bureau' (HNIB) where he purported to gather privy information about the government.
He also used HNIB as a campaign propaganda tool to discredit the government while selling the agenda of Ruto.
A controversial figure who attracts admiration and disdain in equal measure, Itumbi is at the mountaintop according to governance and political analyst Javas Bigambo.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke Bigambo stated that Itumbi's shortlisting was a sign that loyalty in politics indeed rewards.
“Itumbi appearing in the shortlist is a clear sign that the egg of loyalty is about to hatch. The chick of the opportunity to serve is the ultimate reward,” he remarked.
Bigambo further stated that government appointments by nature were not a coincidence.
“The character and nature of appointments are that you do not just apply. It is instigated by the appointing authority,” he disclosed.
According to Bigambo, Itumbi’s eventual appointment to the government could be an opportunity for him to gather information for Ruto’s re-election as he will now be at the centre of government operations.
“Beyond helping to push Kenya Kwanza agenda, he will be useful in profiling, positioning and relaying information to the public concerning government development projects,
He may also want to demonstrate that the government is keen on implementing the digital ideas they pledged during campaigns,” he added.
In his submissions, Bigambo further observed that with Itumbi never holding public office, the recent move would see him rise in rank as a public servant, a fete he never got in Kenyatta's administration.
"Itumbi now rises from being a blogger and digital activist to earning gainful employment in government," he stated.
