Ruto Hires Ex-State House Staffer Fired By Uhuru

President William Ruto has appointed David Nzioka as the new State House Secretary for Digital and Innovations in more reshuffles within his administration.

Nzioka was among the five members of the Presidential Communications Service (PCS), formally known as Presidential Strategic Communication Unit (PSCU), who were all fired by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2020.

Digital strategist Dennis Itumbi announced his appointment on Twitter, thanking the President for investing in dreams and reviving the State House stint of his former colleague who was kicked out alongside Itumbi.

David Nzioka with Dennis Itumbi among others at the Deputy President's Karen residence. /TWITTER.OLE ITUMBI

"Congratulations to the new State House Digital and Innovations boss. A few years ago we were kicked out. Today you return as The Secretary Digital.

"Well done. I wish you well as you serve bro. Thank you, Mr President," he wrote.

Nzioka served as the Directorate of Communication, Events, and Branding prior to his termination. The others included former State House Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi, James Kinyua (Directorate of Communication, Events, and Branding), Erick Ng’eno (Director of Messaging) and John Ndolo (Principal Information Officer – Head of Digital Strategies).

President Ruto's communications sector continues to take shape after he on Saturday, January 7 appointed former KTN News anchor Mike Gitonga as the new Secretary of State Functions.

The Secretary of State is a revamped Office of Government Spokesperson (OGS) that was previously occupied by Rtd Col. Cyrus Oguna. The OGS acted as the nerve centre of government communications.

The core mandate of the Secretary of State Functions is to coordinate, plan, manage and implement communication of government policies, programs and initiatives.

"With a new year comes new beginnings I am first of all grateful to God. I also take this opportunity to thank the President of Kenya William Ruto for the opportunity to serve this nation as Secretary of State Functions,” he wrote in officially announcing his new role.

In the latest government reorganisation, the Head of State earlier assigned his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, to a new key office in the first Executive Order of 2023. Gachagua was allocated the institution of The Coffee Sub-Sector Reforms Implementation Standing Committee, which will oversee coffee reforms in the country.

"Now, therefore, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statute Laws of Kenya, hereby order and direct that this Order assigns functions and institutions among Ministries and State Departments as hereunder; and that this Order supersedes Executive Order No. 1 of 2022 issued on 12th October 2022," the Executive Order No. 1 of 2023 stated.

This is on top of the seven functions currently mandated to him such as:

1. Deputize the President in the execution of the President’s functions. 

2. Chair Cabinet Committees. 

3. Oversee Implementation of Cabinet decisions across all Ministries and State Departments. 

4. Coordinate Inter-Governmental relations between the National Government and County Governments including Chairing the Inter-Governmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC). 

5. Liaison with Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices in matters that require intervention by the National Government including budgets, policy formulation, and implementation of their recommendations. 

6. Coordinate the planning and supervise the implementation of development partners-funded programs and projects. 

7. Oversee Public Sector Reforms, and any other function as may be assigned by the President.

President William Ruto attends the Cabinet retreat in Nanyuki on January 7, 2023 alongside DP Rigathi Gachagua and CS Musalia Mudavadi (prime). /WILLIAM RUTO