State House PSCU team shown the door, Esipisu retained
Dennis Itumbi, the director of digital media in the Office of the President. He and other directors in the Presidential Strategic Communications Unit have been suspended. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
President Kenyatta is expected that further directions on the fate of his communications staff would be issued on Thursday.
The unit has in the past been criticised over the way it operates.
In May last year, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery warned the team against issuing unauthorised communication on the country’s national security matters.
Members of the Presidential Strategic Communications Unit have been suspended following what a source said was “haemorrhaging of uncertified information” to the public.
The directive, issued by State House deputy chief of staff Nzioka Waita on behalf of President Uhuru Kenyatta, affects all the directors of the unit.
Only the head, Manoah Esipisu, has been retained as State House spokesman.
A memo sent to the affected staff only tells them that “the happenings at the office will be explained in detail” when President Kenyatta comes back from Botswana.
The President arrived back in the country on Wednesday, and it is expected that further directions on the fate of his communications staff would be issued on Thursday.
“As for now, everybody sit tight at home,” the message instructs the suspended staff. “You will be recalled.”
PSCU directors include head of public communications Munyori Buku, chief of messaging at the Presidency Eric Ng’eno, branding and events head James Kinyua, and digital and diaspora communications manager Dennis Itumbi. None of them, nor their head Mr Esipisu, was available for comment on Wednesday.
The unit has in the past been criticised over the way it operates, including publication of information purporting to come from the Presidency and failure to follow procedure when dealing with the media.
In May last year, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery warned the team against issuing unauthorised communication on the country’s national security matters.
Mr Nkaissery said erroneous information from the unit could easily cause fear among Kenyans.
On Wednesday, a source said a letter had been issued to security teams at State House barring the affected staff from entering.
(Editing by Joel Muinde)
