This archive report was first published on 5 July 2019.
Secret Tapes and Assassination Claims: A Tangled Web ¶
On July 3, 2019, Dennis Itumbi, secretary digital, innovations and diaspora communications at the Office of the President, was arrested over allegations he was behind a fake letter with Deputy President William Ruto's assassination claims. The letter, which sparked a heated debate, was allegedly written by Itumbi and sent to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Itumbi's arrest came after a Nairobi magistrate allowed an application seeking to have him in extended detention for five more days. The magistrate's decision was based on the DCI's request to have Itumbi in custody for further investigation.
According to Itumbi's affidavit, he feared for his life in police cells due to the evidence he possessed against the four Cabinet Secretaries. The Cabinet Secretaries in question are Peter Munya (Trade and Industrialisation), Joe Mucheru (Information Communication Technologies), Sicily Kariuki (Health), and James Macharia (Health).
Itumbi has revealed that he is ready to release secret tapes that allegedly prove the four Cabinet Secretaries met at La Mada hotel to plot Ruto's assassination. The tapes, which Itumbi claims to possess, are expected to be played in court.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry is facing scrutiny over the installation of faulty CCTVs worth KSh 15 billion in Mombasa and Nairobi. The Ministry has been accused of misusing public funds, and the issue is expected to be investigated further.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, during Bob Collymore's memorial ceremony at All Saints ACK Cathedral in Nairobi, revealed that he had visited the late CEO in his Kitisuru home one week before he succumbed to acute myeloid leukemia. The revelation sparked a heated debate, with many questioning the timing of the President's visit.
Four Kenyan dailies prioritized coverage of Safaricom's late CEO Bob Collymore's memorial, with the blue paper's headline focusing on Uhuru's last moments with Collymore. The paper also highlighted that half of Kenya's elected leaders possess fake gun licenses.
Itumbi's lawyer, Katwa Kigen, revealed that the Tanga Tanga Whatsapp group, which comprises governors, MPs, senators, and other influential leaders, is significant in tracing the 'fake letter.' The group is expected to be probed by the DCI.
As the drama unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Itumbi's secret tapes will be released and whether they will prove the allegations against the four Cabinet Secretaries.
