Uhuru dumps Muthui Kariuki

The government Thursday shut down the office of the Government spokesman and redeployed its holder, Mr Muthui Kariuki, to the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology.

By last evening, it was unclear what role Mr Kariuki would be assigned by the ICT Cabinet Secretary, Dr Fred Matiangi, but sources in the ministry said he would be unattached until a policy being formulated by the ministry on its new structure was complete.

A statement from the President’s office only gave a hint of why he may have been moved stating that the decision was informed by the need to ensure “coherence, clarity and consistency” in the way the government communicates.

“The Office of the Public Communication Secretary and Government Spokesman does not fit within the new structure of President Kenyatta’s administration and has consequently been shut down,” read a short statement dispatched from State House.

State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu will now take charge of communication within government.

“Mr Muthui Kariuki, the last holder of the Government spokesperson post, has been reassigned within government,” State House said.

Mr Esipisu took charge of briefing both local and international media after the fire disaster at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Wednesday.

Immediately after news of his removal was communicated, Mr Kariuki posted on his Facebook and Twitter accounts: “I wish to thank the President and the People of Kenya ...for giving me the opportunity to work with the people....”

The first holder of the office was Dr Alfred Mutua, who quit to join politics. Dr Mutua was elected Governor for Machakos County in the March 4 General Election.