In a recent political development, ousted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua gave a tell-all interview following President Ruto’s development tour of the Mt. Kenya region. Mr. Gachagua claimed he was sidelined in a government he helped bring to power, alleging that Dennis Itumbi, the Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy Coordination, alongside the President’s long-time aide Farouk Kibet, were acting as co-presidents with Ruto—wielding more power than even constitutionally appointed Cabinet Secretaries.

In response, the President dismissed the Head of Special Projects as “a mere blogger”. However, there may be more to Mr. Itumbi’s role than meets the eye.

Itumbi, born on March 18, 1985, trained as a journalist at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC), where he pursued a Diploma in Broadcast Journalism. He worked with leading media houses including Royal Media Services, Standard Group, and Voice of America.

He was instrumental in President Ruto’s rise to power in the August 2022 general election, masterminding a spirited behind-the-scenes digital campaign that helped secure the presidency. Prior to this, he played a crucial role in former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 2013 and 2017 election victories. As Director of Digital, New Media, and Diaspora in the Executive Office of the President, Itumbi positioned himself as a central digital strategist and later became widely recognised as the Jubilee administration’s chief propagandist.

During Uhuru’s first presidential term, Itumbi vigorously defended government positions. He often spun narratives in favour of the administration on social media,earning admiration from Uhuru and his then-deputy, William Ruto.

After the 2022 elections, Itumbi was appointed Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the Ministry of Information, Communication, and the Digital Economy. However, this appointment was quashed by the High Court, with Justices Kathurima M’inoti, Mumbi Ngugi, and Francis Tuiyot ruling that the creation of 50 CAS positions was legally untenable and constitutionally questionable.

Despite the setback, Itumbi was later tapped to serve as Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy Coordination,a role that has brought him back into the spotlight, and into the heart of power.