Dennis Itumbi details his fallout with Uhuru Kenyatta
Ruto lead digital strategist Dennis Itumbi blames Uhuru for their earlier unforeseen hostility after successful political campaigns in 2013 and 2017
Ruto lead digital strategist Dennis Itumbi blames Uhuru for their earlier unforeseen hostility after successful political campaigns in 2013 and 2017
Kenya Kwanza lead digital strategist Dennis Itumbi has detailed his fallout with retired president Uhuru Kenyatta.
Speaking in an interview on TV47’s WabebeXP,, the social media activist blamed Uhuru for their earlier unforeseen hostility even after successful political campaigns in 2013 and 2017.
According to Itumbi, a journalist by profession, Uhuru’s many friends had left his fold and that pointed to him as the only problem as an individual.
“Everybody who was his friend is no longer with him. Surely the problem cannot be us, it must be him,” he said.
He recalled a phone call conversation he had with former President Uhuru Kenyatta warning him against supporting the current head of state, William Ruto where Uhuru threatened to ‘crush him’.
According to the journalist and Ruto’s confidant, the phone call in 2018 caught him off guard.
Uhuru reportedly wanted him to stop associating with Ruto and cease visiting the DP’s residence in Karen and the Harambee Annex office.
Itumbi, who had just left a funeral in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, parked his car by the roadside to speak with Uhuru.
“He told me to let the phone remain on hold. I was still in Mwea, where I had parked the car for 10 minutes. He spoke again when I was in Pangani and told me he would crush me,” Itumbi claimed, adding that Uhuru sought clarification on why he supported Ruto rather than the government’s agenda.
Itumbi voiced his concerns and sought an explanation from the president on why he should not support Ruto.
“From the first time we spoke in Mwea, and the time we spoke in Pangani, his demeanour had changed,” Itumbi told Willis Raburu, TV47 journalist and WabebeXP host.
Upon arriving in Nairobi, the digital strategist allegedly headed straight into Ruto’s office to ascertain whether he had fallen out of favour with Uhuru.
Ruto, however, asserted that he was still in communication with Uhuru and deviated from further divulging any information that would have jeopardised his relationship with the head of state.
However, their relationship soured a few months later as their fallout became more evident.
After insisting on working with Ruto, Itumbi was dismissed from his job at State House. Nonetheless, he would still engage in a conversation with the former president.
Hundreds killed after powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake, the strongest in 123 years hit Morocco
Shasha Obama stirs controversy after being spotted smoking a cigarette
Raila says “ODM will not condone political infidelity” as cracks whip on rebels
Supreme Court judges warns Omtatah as they dismiss his petition on Finance Act “Respect courts”
All Kenyans working abroad (diaspora) to face mandatory deduction
“The person who stopped communicating is Uhuru. Since he was the president and I was just a guy in this town trying to make a living, it was up to him to give me a call should he decide to.
He however specified that he would not block his contact.
“It is up to him if he will ever make a call. But I’m not desperate for his call. I, unlike Kimani Ichung’wah, I would not block him. The only thing I’ll never do is kneel down for a fellow man. I won’t give a damn whether he calls or not,” said Itumbi.
Until March 2020, Itumbi had served as the director of the Digital and Diaspora Communications under the Presidential Strategic Communications Unit (PSCU).
He was fired alongside James Kinyua who was in charge of Events and Branding at State House, Edward Irungu (Press), Munyori Buku (External Communications and Media ), and Eric Ng’eno (Speechwriting and Research).
The team relocated to President William Ruto’s side where for which they started strategising ahead of the 2022 vote.
Also read,
How Raila wanted to break protocal during ACS, Gachagua
“It’s not over yet” Omtatah hits back at Supreme Court ruling on Finance Act
Ruto CS fires entire EPRA Board members appointed under Uhuru Kenyatta administration
Ruto teases Suluhu over Raila’s Azimio coalition remark
DCI announces changes on police clearance certificate
Follow us
