Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi disclosed on Friday that former President Uhuru Kenyatta had offered him a car and a bodyguard during the peak of his fallout with President William Ruto.
Itumbi, speaking in an interview on TV47’s WabebeXP, alleged that Uhuru contacted him in 2018 when he was publicly supporting Ruto and threatened to take action against him.
According to Itumbi, a blogger turned close associate of Ruto, the unexpected phone call from Uhuru in 2018 came as a shock, greatly disturbing his peace of mind. Uhuru reportedly wanted him to disassociate himself from Ruto and stop visiting the Deputy President’s residence in Karen and the Harambee Annex office.
Itumbi, who had just left a funeral in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, parked his car on the roadside to answer Uhuru’s call. This conversation occurred shortly after Uhuru and opposition leader Raila Odinga entered into a significant agreement known as the handshake.
“He told me to keep the call on hold. I was still in Mwea, where I had parked for 10 minutes. He spoke again when I was in Pangani and told me he would take action against me,” Itumbi claimed, revealing that Uhuru wanted an explanation for his support of Ruto rather than the government’s agenda.
Itumbi expressed his concerns and sought clarification from the President regarding his allegiance to Ruto.
“His demeanor had changed from the first time we spoke in Mwea to the time we talked in Pangani,” Itumbi told Willis Raburu, TV47 journalist and host of WabebeXP.
Upon arriving in Nairobi, the digital strategist reportedly went straight to Ruto’s office to determine the status of his relationship with Uhuru. Ruto, however, asserted that he was still in communication with Uhuru and refrained from disclosing any details that might jeopardize his relationship with the President.
However, their relationship deteriorated over the next few months, becoming increasingly apparent.
Despite Itumbi’s insistence on working with Ruto, he was eventually dismissed from his position at State House. Nevertheless, he continued to engage in conversations with the former President.
“The one who stopped communicating was Uhuru. Since he was the President and I was just an individual in this town trying to make a living, the initiative to call was up to him. Unlike Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah, I haven’t blocked him. If he calls, I’ll answer, but I’m not desperate,” he stated.
During the interview, the digital strategist also revealed that he declined the offer of a car and a bodyguard from Uhuru while still employed at State House. Itumbi claimed that he was entitled to these benefits due to his senior position in Uhuru’s former communication team. However, he believed that his life was not in danger, as he had no enemies who would require him to have a bodyguard.
Itumbi also expressed his desire to maintain his private life without constant monitoring, stating, “I didn’t want to be pursuing a romantic interest and having security personnel following me. I also felt that I didn’t have any enemies.”
