Uhuru gave me a 'fishing rod', not a posh house

A newspaper report claimed the National Intelligence Service (NIS) was investigating your certificate from KIMC (Kenya Institute of Mass Communication)?

This is not something I need to defend myself against.

There are people I went to college with who are all over the newsrooms in Kenya and other organisations across the world who can attest to my academic credibility. I am actually back in school studying new media and hope to have a PhD by 2017. As a journalist, I know there is what we call ‘dry days’ (silly season) when there are no stories. The newspaper that did that story must have been experiencing a dry day!

Is there a tug-of-war between you and some powerful people determined to get your job?

There’s no way you can grow in the absence of critics. A person with no challenges cannot run or complete a race. It’s the player with the ball who gets called all sorts of names and jeered by spectators. Dennis Itumbi is in a race. I can hear the cheers and the jeers on the terraces, but my eyes are trained on the finish line.

Did you hack the International Criminal Court (ICC) account to expose witnesses? Are you a hacker?

I do not doubt my ability to utilise new technology. I sued the ICC because of that claim and the ruling is on their website. They denied ordering my arrest, following which I filed a case in the Kenyan courts to seek clarification. Once the case is over here, I will go back to the ICC to seek further clarification. It’s not over until it’s over. Am I a hacker? That is up to historians and other authors to determine.

Your case alongside controversial TNA activist Moses Kuria won during the presidential petition. How come?

Our interest was for future generations. That is why even after winning, we did not demand that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission revise the results to reflect the Supreme Court ruling. We left that to future generations, so they can be part of this democratic process and enjoy the results of that effort.

What was your role in the Jubilee campaigns?

I was a consultant, providing social media services, not an employee of the team per se. I did the same for a number of politicians across the political divide. Of course all contracts had a confidential clause, which I upheld. I couldn’t reveal any of the politicians’ strategies. I was not partisan in the elections, as is quite clear from my social media updates then. But I was part of the Jubilee campaign, although not a full-time employee.

Is it true that the President bought you a multi-million shilling house in a Nairobi suburb?

That is total nonsense. President Uhuru Kenyatta, for the record, does not give handouts. He’s not going to give you fish, but he would give you a fishing rod.

 

Why would he give me a house? I know he can instead give you a job, then you to decide whether you want to buy a house or not. He is my boss, my friend, trainer and mentor.

How did the late Bishop David Gitari, your grandfather, influence your life?

He literally brought up the entire extended family. He paid my mum’s school fees, besides supporting us in other different ways. Every first day of the year, he would invite us to his house and work with every member of the family to build our dreams.

At the time of his death, he was working on a project for the family to set up a bank. We have since managed to start a Sacco as a family. We will be launching a book in his honour soon.

Tell us your role in the controversial move to establish a cashless matatu payment system?

It is the matatu industry players who came to us and requested we develop a system for them. We did that for free. It’s them who decided on who will supply the cards. We gave them the technology, which we think works, and it’s only a matter of time before we are proved right. Should anyone else approach us with a similarly beneficial initiative, we will oblige.

What is your day-to-day routine like?

I go to bed around 2am or 3am because I have to engage with the Diaspora who are in different time zones. Before retiring to bed, I spend 30 minutes studying the Bible or other Christian literature in preparation for my Pastor’s moment, which is my first post on Facebook every day. I wake up at 5am for a seven-kilometre jog, after which I go through digital papers before my vendor delivers my newspapers. I am in the office by 6.30am, depending on my station in any day. My job is highly mobile. I compare my diary with the President’s to ensure they are in-sync.

How has the appointment changed your life?

For the last 10 years, I have lived in Kiambu in a place called Thindigwa. My appointment has not changed my lifestyle. I came from the village, I herded cattle and I had jiggers. Sometimes I wonder why having jiggers is portrayed as shameful.

As a boy, the jiggers made me bond with my grandmother, since she had to massage and inspect my toes. This was always an exciting experience. When I first came to Nairobi, I lived in Mukuru slums before I moved to Mbotela. There are, however, some social places I can no longer visit owing to the nature of my job.

Even updating events on social media is tricky these days because there is a thin line between Dennis Itumbi the person and the brand he represents.

The social media was awash with allegations that you were behind the disappearance of blogger Bogonko Bosire because he was about to be summoned by the ICC. True or false?

I would have no interest in hiding Bogonko. He lightened our lives with humour and ensured we were entertained every morning through Jackal News. You can’t hide Bogonko.

Are you dating?

Let me just say that I am on a very good course in regard to that.