Muluka retained in Raila’s campaign team as advisor

Former publisher Barrack Muluka, who resigned as Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Director of Communications, will now become his advisor.

Mr Odinga and Mr Muluka met for hours on Thursday after which the latter agreed to become a strategic advisor.

The Nation established that Mr Muluka resigned following a lengthy strained relationship with some of Mr Odinga’s close aides, said to have constantly interfered with his work.

“I have decided to move on. I am a professional and I cannot operate in an environment where professionalism is not valued,” he said on Wednesday, moments after sending an e-mail on his decision to quit Mr Odinga’s team.

ODM insiders confirmed that Mr Muluka was unhappy with the alleged invitation of Mr Odinga’s former spokesman Mr Salim Lone to strengthen the communication department.

But Mr Lone denied he had been hired to help Mr Muluka at the secretariat’s communication office.

“It is untrue that I have been asked to join the communication department. That is not true at all,” Mr Lone said.

On Thursday, Mr Muluka confirmed meeting Mr Odinga in his Harambee Avenue office and announced he had accepted his new role as an advisor, adding that his replacement at the secretariat was being sought.

Exit was pre-negotiated

Said Muluka: “Yes, I met the PM this morning (Thursday). I will be leaving but still be a member of Mr Odinga’s team and I will remain as a strategic advisor.”

He said he was leaving next week to pursue his PhD in politics and International Relations at the Leicester University in Britain, which has been on deferral for some time.

Mr Odinga’s chief campaigner Eliud Owallo said Mr Muluka’s exit was pre-negotiated when he joined the secretariat in February.