Dennis Itumbi, the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) of ICT, has threatened to file a defamation lawsuit against the Nation Media Group (NMG) over a series of articles he claims damaged his reputation.
Itumbi identified an article that was printed in both editions of Taifa Leo and Sunday Nation that described how CASs seized office despite a court order prohibiting them in a 5-page demand letter obtained by sauce.co.ke.
Itumbi alleged that he was singled out for his role in organizing the Madaraka Day celebrations with other government officials.
“Our client’s profile, which he has laboured so hard to build and sustain has been gravely tarnished,” Itumbi, through his lawyer Adrian Kamotho Njenga and Company Advocates, stated.
In drawing attention to the situation, his attorney gave a 48-hour deadline and demanded an immediate retraction of all the statements made public by NMG that damaged Itumbi’s reputation.
Additionally, the CAS demanded a clear public apology for the publications. In addition, he ordered that Nation Media Group promise to never again publish any materials that would damage his reputation.
Itumbi stated the publications claimed that the CAS carried out his official duties as normal despite a court injunction while breaking down the issues in Nation’s stories. He also criticized the headline Mibabe wa Ukaidi (Stubborn Tyrants), which appeared on Taifa Leo on May 21, 2023, and included his picture on the first page.
The attorney also found flaws in the publications’ assertions that all of the functions he performed were those that were expected of CASs. The CAS argued that the article gave the impression that he is anxious to hold the CAS position, despite the fact that his life would fall apart without it.
He noted that should NMG fail to heed the demands, he would take legal proceedings over the matter.
Itumbi was one of 50 CASs sworn in on March 23, 2023, during President William Ruto’s watch. After receiving a petition from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) challenging the CASs’ constitutionality, Justice Hedwig Ongudi of the High Court in Nairobi prevented the CASs from taking office the following day.
However, President Ruto defended his choice to choose the 50 CASs, citing a heavy workload that required all hands on deck in order to fulfill campaign promises.
