Government Strategic Communication Secretary Kibisu Kabatesi’s has resigned amid controversy surrounding the relocation of office spaces for Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Public Service CS Moses Kuria.
Kabatesi, a prominent figure in public communications and a long-serving communication aide to Mudavadi, officially tendered his resignation in a letter dated October 25, stating that it would be effective from November 1 due to “personal reasons.”
“While I would have preferred to continue our efforts in streamlining government communications to foster dialogue between the government and its citizens, I regret that, for personal reasons, I must resign effective November 1,” part of his resignation letter read.
Kabatesi’s decision to step down came shortly after he vehemently dismissed a memo from Head of Public Service Felix Koskei concerning the relocation of physical office spaces and certain ministerial responsibilities.
Koskei’s memo had instructed the relocation of the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s office from Railways to the Old Treasury Building, while simultaneously assigning the Railways office to Moses Kuria.
“We refer to the above subject matter and to the notification of Presidential Action of October 4, 2023. In accordance with the Presidential Action on the Reorganisation of the Government of Kenya, we hereby notify you that the physical addresses for Ministries and State Departments (Ministerial Head Office) have been designated,” the statement declared.
In a swift response, the Prime Cabinet Secretary clarified on Facebook that his office would continue to be based at the Railways headquarters, regardless of the memorandum.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs remains at the Railways headquarters,” the statement affirmed.
Subsequently, Kabatesi sent a letter, emphasizing that the President had the authority to designate ministerial locations and portfolios, and until Executive Order No.1 of January 2023 was replaced by President William Ruto with another Executive Order, the existing arrangement would persist.
He also asserted that any public servant attempting to allocate ministerial locations or portfolios was misguided.
