Nairobi, Kenya, Jan 22-Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has reiterated digital strategist Dennis Itumbi’s role in President William Ruto’s government as “Mr Fix It” in State House.
While addressing the debate on Itumbi’s job description, Gachagua said Sunday during the Interdenominational Thanksgiving Service at Kirinyaga County that despite having no physical office, the digital guru is tasked with “fixing issues” at the House on the Hill.
“Huyu ofisi yake inaitwa come here go there. Huyu ni mtu ya Rais ya mkono. Hana ofisi yoyote pale lakini ndio mwenyewe. Anapanga hapa, anapanga hapo anapanga pale (for now he has no physical office, but he is the president’s right hand man because he fixes issues. He is that guy,” Gachagua said that as he told off those questioning Itumbi’s role singling out the Azimio critics.
Gachagua’s remarks come at a time the Head of State has been making multiple appointments in recent months, with some wondering why Itumbi is yet to be assigned a formal role having fought through blood and tears towards President Ruto’s ascension to the country’s top office.
Some had further argued that Itumbi was being sidelined by the Head of State in the appointments but is proximity to power confirms that he is in the inner circle.
There are also reports that he is keen on the Cabinet Administrative Secretary (CAS) post.
In October last year, Azimio strategist Mutahi Ngunyi inquired whether Itumbi had been allocated a job after pledging his loyalty to President Ruto.
In response Itumbi told him that he is well catered for in the Ruto administration.
“I am looking at the DOCUMENTS of your pay at State House- mmmh Consult Africa – 14m a week? 4,000 bags of FERTLIZER today. How did you lose to President William Ruto with that kind of CASH? Now the President buying Fertilizer with it bro. My job is go there, come here, NIKO SAWA,” Itumbi said in a Twitter post on October 26.
Itumbi had been working at State House during the first term of Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime shifted to Ruto, the then Deputy President’s office where he continued to work as part of his digital team.
He was highly instrumental in defending Ruto’s camp by spearheading and curating a well-calculated counterattack against Kenya Kwanza opponents and critics before, during and after the 2022 presidential contest.
Itumbi was also part of the team that oversaw Kenya Kwanza’s parallel tallying exercise after the August 9 polls.
