As one of the most trolled Kenyans on social media, State House Digital Secretary Denis Itumbi has by now developed a thick skin against the mockery he is every so often subjected to by merciless Kenyans on Twitter.
Even as the year draws to a close, Itumbi is still the subject of discussion amongst netizens.
Here are the top five times Itumbi got the country talking in 2019 with his political and social antics.
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William Ruto assassination plot
In July, Itumbi was arrested in connection to a letter that had thrown the country into panic, claiming that several cabinet secretaries had held a meeting with the intention of killing Deputy President William Ruto.
Date May 30, 2019, the letter, which has since been proved to be a creation of malicious individuals within Ruto’s camp, claimed that Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho led the purported meeting at Hotel La Mada with CSs Sicily Kariuki, Peter Munya, and Joe Mucheru.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, however, no such meeting took place, and their investigations led them directly to Itumbi.
2. Jacque Maribe drama
It is no secret that Itumbi holds former Citizen TV journalist Jacque Maribe close to his heart.
On Dec. 18, what Itumbi has meant to be a good wishes post for Maribe’s birthday attracted the attention of Kenyans, who flocked the post with salty and insulting comments on Itumbi’s obsession with the journalist, who has clearly placed him squarely in the friend-zone.
This was the same case in October shared his graduation wishes for Maribe and comedian Eric Omondi’s son, perhaps in an attempt to show that he is unbothered by the fact that the former TV girl seems to always choose other men over him.
3. BBI report launch drama
On Nov. 27, during the public launch of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report at the Bomas of Kenya, Itumbi attempted to sneak into the VIP section, but security officers were having none of it.
In front of the full glare of cameras, Itumbi was roughed out of the podium area and forced to stand at a far corner and on that day, Kenyans talked about hi perhaps more than they did about the BBI report.
He later came out to downplay the incident, saying that he did not feel any form of embarrassment.
4. Social media spat with Sabina Chege
On the same day Itumbi was roughed up at Bomas, he took to social media in an attempt to mock Embrace women leaders on their group’s agenda, demeaning them in comparison with his preferred Inua Mama brigade.
“Dear @SABINACHEGE Embrace, let us face it had a political agenda if any. Inua Mama has a social empowerment agenda…” Posted Itumbi.
The Murang’a Woman Representative, however, fired a silencing clap-back, shaming Itumbi for engaging himself in women matters.
5. Ruto’s tweet against Raila on Dec. 27
As we speak, Itumbi is the topic of a heated debated among KOT who believe that he is the one who wrote a controversial tweet sent out from Ruto’s Twitter handle mocking ODM leader Raila Odinga.
According to social media ‘experts’, the words used in the post sound more like something Itumbi, not Ruto, would say.
Ruto die-hards now want Itumbi’s access to the DP’s social media handles restricted before it turns into a public relations disaster.
Boss,the last time I checked Kenya was the collective business of the 47m of us. When did it become yours,for the rest of us to be patient with you, as you decide what is good for us!!!!! Yaani sasa imefika hapo? Please a little decency & respect is not much to ask of you ndugu. pic.twitter.com/QUwmP8ZqpO
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) December 27, 2019
Here are some reactions to the tweet:
