On Wednesday, March 18, five State House officials attached to the Presidential Strategic Communication Unit (PSCU) were fired.
It has now emerged that the five; Dennis Itumbi (Digital and Diaspora Communications Senior Director), James Kinyua (Directorate of Communication, Events, and Branding), Erick Ng’eno (Director of Messaging), David Nzioka (Directorate of Communication, Events, and Branding), and John Ndolo (Principal Information Officer – Head of Digital Strategies), may be heading to work for Deputy President William Ruto.
According to Daily Nation, the five are said to be headed to the DP's 2022 campaign team.
Sources who spoke to the publication stated that the team had been asked 'to hang around' and wait for instructions from Dr Korir Sing'oei who is in charge of leading the DP's strategy in preparation for the 2022 elections.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's allies, however, are not pleased by the move, stating that it is not good gesture.
They stated that by the DP taking in the five, he was insinuating that the president had failed to reciprocate the good done by the five.
The Public Service Commission announced that it had scrapped the five positions within PSCU due to redundancy.
However, Itumbi and his colleagues are believed to have had a fall out with President Uhuru Kenyatta long before their sacking.
Yesterday, on Friday, March 20, Itumbi thanked the president for the time that he allowed him to serve at State House.
"Thank you President Uhuru and DP William Ruto, you have transformed an unknown villager to a headline newsmaker. Thank you for believing, mentoring, continuously growing and protecting my hustle," Itumbi wrote on his Twitter page.
Several leaders have since weighed in on Itumbi's sacking, some celebrating his misfortune while others, asking him to take heart.
"Son (Referring to Itumbi), we may not be on the same page politically, but as a mother, I say to you it shall be well," former Justice Minister Martha Karua stated.
"I don’t ordinarily celebrate the misfortunes of others. But the 'beheading' today of Itumbi from the Presidential Strategic Communications Unit calls on all democracy lovers to raise a glass of champagne," Prof Makau Mutua wrote.
