The glittering profile of charismatic Cyrus Oguna: Uhuru’s new beloved spokesman

On Tuesday morning President Uhuru Kenyatta appoints Colonel (rtd) Cyrus Odhiambo Oguna as the Government Spokesman, replacing Eric Kiraithe in a move that sees the spokesman docket moved from interior ministry to ICT.

In a statement signed by ICT CS Joe Mucheru, the move takes effect immediately as the government rebuilds its communication structure.

“In line with directions from the Executive Office of the President through the Head of the Public Service, the office of the Government Spokesman shall be domiciled at the ICT Ministry,” the statement read.

Government spokesperson

Oguna has previously held various positions relating to the management of personnel, operations and communications within the Kenya Defence Forces and government.

Colonel Oguna became KDF’s public face. The eloquent speaker conveyed with enthusiasm progress made by the forces in Operation Linda Nchi.

He drew praise from many over the way he handled tricky questions from nosy journalists.

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Col Oguna faded from the limelight when KDF officially joined the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), sparking inquiries on his whereabouts. Under this arrangement, Amisom had the responsibility of giving updates.

However, the spokesperson was to return to the public sphere when Kenya was allocated 16 top positions at the Amisom headquarters, including heading the Public Information Unit, which Col Oguna was supposed to take up.

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Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti and Burundi — the major suppliers of Amisom forces — had agreed to share the top slots at the headquarters in Mogadishu, with each country deploying 16 officers from the total 85.

However, this changed following the entry of Sierra Leone into Amisom as its officials and those from other nations were also to be accommodated to reflect the African perspective.

Col Oguna said the African Union gave Djibouti the Public Information slot while Kenya got a legal adviser’s position.

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“It was like a trade off,” Col Oguna said. In an earlier arrangement that has since been revised, two Kenyan military officers were to be spokespersons.

He was also the head of Public Affairs department at the defence headquarter.

He completed his  BA degree from the UoN, and is pursuing a Master’s Degree also at the UoN.

He was also in the list of candidates shortlisted for the position of the anti-graft body’s EACC chief executive officer, a position currently held by Twalib Abdallah Mbarak.

Oguna shall now have the oversight role of all government communication channels under the ICT Ministry.

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