Govt spokesman office shut, Muthui Kariuki redeployed

Government spokesman Muthui Kariuki addresses the media in Nairobi on June 25, 2013. His office has been shut and Mr Kariuki redeployed August 8, 2013. FILE

The office of government spokesman has been shut and its holder Muthui Kariuki redeployed.

A statement from the presidency Thursday said the move was informed by the need to ensure "coherence, clarity and consistency" in the way the government communicates.

"The Office of Public Communication Secretary and Government Spokesman does not fit within the new structure of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration and has consequently been shut," the statement said.

State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu will now be in charge of communication within government.

"Mr Muthui Kariuki, the last holder of the Government Spokesperson post, has been reassigned within Government."

On receiving the news, Mr Kariuki said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve Kenyans.

'I wish to thank the President and the People of Kenya at whose behest I served for giving me the opportunity to work with the people.

"I look forward to continued service in my new role and as assigned by the President of Kenya. It has been a joy!," he tweeted.

He also accused the former premier of mounting an "illegal siren" on one of the cars and using it to manoeuvre through traffic in the city.

“He is forever mourning that the government is not giving him recognition, yet he has refused to return six government vehicles and has gone on and bought an illegal siren and is forever driving all over town using the wrong lanes,” Mr Kariuki said.