STATE HOUSE PRESIDENTIAL STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS UNIT TEAM SHOWN THE DOOR, ESIPISU RETAINED

Presidential Strategic Communications Unit (PSCU) Directors from left: James Kinyua (Events and Branding), Edward Irungu (Press), Munyori Buku (External Communications and Media ), Dennis Itumbi (Digital, New Media and Diaspora) and Eric Ngeno (Speech Writing and Research). PHOTO | FILE  

By BERNARD MWINZI

Members of the Presidential Strategic Communication Unit have been suspended following what a source said was “haemorrhaging of uncertified information” to the public.

The directive, issued by State House deputy chief of staff Nzioka Waita on behalf of President Uhuru Kenyatta, affects all the directors of the unit.

Only the head, Mr Manoah Esipisu, has been retained as State House spokesman.

Communication sent to the affected staff only tells them that “the happenings at the office will be explained in detail” when President Kenyatta comes back from Botswana.

The President arrived back into the country on Wednesday, and it is expected that further directions on the fate of his communications staff would be issued on Thursday.

“As for now, everybody sit tight at home,” the message instructs the suspended staff. “You will be recalled.”

PSCU directors include head of public communications Munyori Buku, chief of messaging at the Presidency Eric Ng’eno, branding and events head James Kinyua, and digital and diaspora communications manager Dennis Itumbi. None of them, nor their head Mr Esipisu, was available for comment on Wednesday.

The unit has in the past been criticised over the way it operates, including publication of information purporting to come from the Presidency and failure to follow procedure when dealing with the media.

In May last year, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery warned the team against issuing unauthorised communication on the country’s national security matters.

Mr Nkaiserry said erroneous information from the unit could easily cause fear among Kenyans.

On Wednesday, a source said a letter has been issued to security teams at State House barring the entry of the affected staff unless otherwise informed.

CREDIT: NMG