When the new list of executive officers attached to State House was unveiled by former Head of
the Public Service Joseph Kinyua last October, observers noted that the prolific and sometimes
maverick digital chieftain Dennis Itumbi was missing.

Perhaps as a measure of his reverence in political and media circles, many expected Mr Itumbi to
land a slot as a Cabinet Secretary or Principal Secretary. Still, all the recent appointments have
been silent on his official role even as he continues to enjoy pride of place as one of the most
influential operatives in President William Ruto’s government.

Undoubtedly, Mr Itumbi, the radical grandson of the late outspoken Anglican Archbishop David
Mukuba Gitari, has fought his way to the political roundtable and deserves the seat and banquet
now laid out.
Impeccable sources indicate that all is not lost, and Mr Itumbi is now actively serving as the
Secretary, New Media and Digital. He is presently serving under the Executive Office of the
President. Still, he may transition to serve under the Ministry of Information Communication and
Digital Economy led by Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo. At this ministry, Mr Itumbi will most
likely be picked for one of the Chief Administrative Secretary slots.
In his current Secretary, New Media and Digital role, Mr Itumbi recently spearheaded and led
the successful delivery of the first themed Jamhuri Day Celebrations. He was instrumental in the
conceptualization and production delivery of a national celebration fine-tuned to celebrate the
role played by Information technology players. The 59th Jamhuri Day was centred on a Creative
Economy, Technology and Innovation theme.
He was also one of the key players who burnt the midnight oil to provide strategic support in the
run-up to the launch of the Hustler Fund.
Looking ahead, Mr Itumbi is a man to watch in the local ICT space as he will continue playing a
vital transformative role in the government's economic transformation agenda, which is banking
on technology drivers. He is one of the few mission critical executives traditionally known to
deliver against their tasks and will come in handy in entrenching the Government’s Digital and
New Media goals.